The Coalition for Equitable Development and Fiscal Justice (CEDFJ) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the 2025 capital budget as a national emergency, noting that effective implementation is crucial to sustaining economic recovery and public confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its President, Dr. Gbenga Akinbowale, and National Secretary, Gloria Maduegbuna, the group said the success of the President’s reform agenda depends on timely and efficient execution of capital projects.
“The President must now see the 2025 capital budget as a national emergency. Each year, the same bureaucratic cycle repeats itself — funds are released late, projects stall midway, and inflation wipes out the value of appropriations. This must not continue under an administration that came to power promising a break from the past,” the statement said.
CEDFJ emphasised that consistent and timely release of funds is vital to ensuring that infrastructure projects across the country are completed as planned.
The group noted that accelerated budget performance would strengthen public trust in the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Every stalled road project, every uncompleted hospital or power installation is a reminder that citizens are still waiting for the Renewed Hope they were promised. Meeting these expectations through visible delivery will reinforce national confidence in the government’s direction,” it added.
Akinbowale said the coalition’s review of past budgets showed that less than 70 percent of capital allocations were utilised in most MDAs between 2021 and 2024 — a situation that, if not improved upon, could affect critical infrastructure projects in 2025.
He urged the President to introduce a direct monitoring mechanism for capital releases and demand quarterly performance reports from relevant government agencies.
“The credibility of the Renewed Hope Agenda depends not on how well the budget is written, but on how faithfully it is implemented. The 2025 fiscal year presents an opportunity to demonstrate visible progress and deliver the tangible outcomes citizens expect,” the group stated.