Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has questioned the Federal Government’s handling of revenue and budget implementation following recent remarks by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
In a post on X on Thursday, Shehu said Onanuga’s comments appeared to validate concerns that some government ministries may not have received their full approved budget allocations.
Reacting to the development, Shehu argued that Nigerians should pay close attention, claiming the remarks raise fresh questions about how government revenues, loans, and grants have been managed over the past three years.
He questioned reports suggesting that some ministers were using personal funds to keep their ministries running, asking what had happened to the annual budgets approved by the National Assembly.
Shehu also challenged the government to clarify whether ministries were being fully funded as appropriated or if budget shortfalls had become a hidden reality.
His remarks followed comments by Onanuga during an interview on Arise Television, where the presidential aide defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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BACKSTORY…
The comments by Mahdi Shehu follow recent remarks by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga while defending the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Onanuga’s remarks reportedly suggested that some government officials had, at times, used personal resources to support the running of their ministries, a statement that has sparked debate over budget releases and fiscal transparency.
This comes amid growing public scrutiny of the Federal Government’s revenue management, especially as Nigeria continues to rely on loans, grants, and tax reforms while facing inflation, rising debt, and economic hardship.
Critics have increasingly questioned whether budgetary allocations are being fully implemented and whether government revenues are being properly accounted for.
Shehu’s reaction reflects broader concerns over transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of public spending under the current administration.
