Shettima Defends N68tn Budget, Rejects Leaner Planning Calls

On Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima defended Nigeria's N68 trillion budget during a national policy dialogue in Abuja, organized by the National Assembly's Joint Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs. Shettima, alongside former Director General of the Budget Office Ben Akabueze, called for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria's budget framework, asserting that the current system must be realistic and discipline-driven to foster development.

He dismissed arguments for a leaner budget, insisting that the fiscal plan should be ambitious and forward-looking. The Vice President highlighted recent policy steps, including tariff adjustments aimed at stimulating production and alleviating pressure on citizens.

He noted that the budget should focus on improving living standards and reducing poverty rates. Shettima also pointed out the challenges posed by weak fiscal coordination and the existence of approximately 56,000 abandoned projects across the country, which he described as symptoms of a failure to link budget planning with development outcomes.