The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vehemently criticized Nigeria's 2026 Budget Proposal, valued at N58.57tn, asserting that it represents an admission of the nation's fiscal insolvency. The opposition party's team of economists, led by national publicity secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, rigorously reviewed the budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their primary concern stems from the government's plan to generate N34tn in revenue while simultaneously borrowing N24tn, which results in an alarming deficit-to-revenue ratio of 70 percent, a figure the ADC deems unacceptable and unprecedented in any functional fiscal system.

The ADC has unequivocally labeled the budget as a “debt trap masquerading as a budget.” They highlighted the government’s intention to allocate N25.68tn to capital expenditure, yet with a projected deficit of N23.85tn, it becomes evident that nearly every major infrastructure project or initiative will be funded through high-interest debts. This scenario is particularly alarming to the party, especially when coupled with concerns that the government might be borrowing mindlessly to finance what they describe as