Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has challenged President Bola Tinubu to publicly disclose the 2026 budgetary provisions allocated for the expansion of the Nigerian Army, raising questions about fiscal transparency and security spending priorities at the federal level.
Speaking on recent national governance trends, Governor Makinde pointed out that subnational governments across the federation have experienced an increase in statutory allocations following recent economic reforms, yet this rise in revenue has failed to alleviate widespread hunger among citizens.
The governor’s remarks bring fresh scrutiny to the distribution of public resources, the financial capacity of state governments, and the transparency of federal defense expenditures as the country plans for the coming fiscal year.
Fiscal Realities and Subnational Revenue
Governor Makinde acknowledged that state and local governments currently receive higher financial allocations from the federation account than in previous years. However, he argued that the increased fiscal inflow has not translated into tangible economic relief or food security for ordinary Nigerians.
The debate over subnational revenue comes amid ongoing discussions regarding fiscal federalism and how state governors utilize improved allocations to address poverty, unemployment, and agricultural productivity within their respective domains.
By turning his focus to federal defense spending, Makinde questioned the rationale behind large-scale military recruitment and expansion plans without a clear, publicly declared financial blueprint detailing how the deployments and infrastructure will be sustained.
The presidency has yet to issue an official response to the governor’s challenge regarding the 2026 defense estimates. Meanwhile, federal lawmakers are expected to review the upcoming fiscal appropriation bill as part of the legislative calendar leading up to the new budget cycle.
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