CSJ demands Budget Office release 2026 Budget details

…Threatens Legal Action; BoF Defends Delay
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA – The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has called on the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, to either immediately publish the detailed breakdown of the 2026 federal budget or resign, citing alleged failure to ensure timely public access to the document.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, CSJ Lead Director, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, faulted what he described as the continued delay in uploading the approved 2026 budget to the Budget Office website more than two weeks after presidential assent.

Onyekpere said Nigerians have a constitutional right to timely access to public finance information, arguing that withholding budget details undermines transparency and accountability.

“The Director-General of the BOF must upload the assented 2026 federal budget within 48 hours of this statement. This is not a request for favour; it is a statutory duty,” he said.

He added that failure to perform the responsibility would leave resignation as “the most reasonable option,” insisting that public office holders must be willing and able to discharge their duties effectively.
CSJ also urged the Budget Office, alongside the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning and Finance, to urgently conduct a public budget briefing to explain policy priorities and allocations.

The group cited Section 48(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, stressing that government must ensure “full and timely disclosure and wide publication” of all fiscal decisions.

According to Onyekpere, the budget was signed into law on April 17, 2026, but had not yet been published on official platforms as of May 4, describing the delay as unacceptable.

He further recalled that similar delays were recorded during the presentation of the budget proposal to the National Assembly, which he said was uploaded weeks after submission.

However, in its response, the Budget Office of the Federation rejected allegations of negligence, insisting that due process is being followed in preparing the final document for public release.

In a statement, the BoF said the delay was due to necessary technical procedures, including harmonisation of final figures with legislative adjustments and alignment with implementation frameworks across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The office stressed that budget publication is not a “mechanical upload process” but a structured exercise requiring verification and quality assurance.

“At the outset, the BOF categorically rejects any insinuation of dereliction of duty. The Office operates within a structured fiscal governance framework that prioritises accuracy, verification, and standardisation,” the statement read.

It added that post-approval processes involve integrating fiscal data into implementation systems to ensure consistency and prevent errors in public reporting.

The BoF further stated that preparations for the publication of the 2026 budget are at an advanced stage and will be released through official channels in line with established procedures.

It also confirmed that a comprehensive budget briefing is being planned in collaboration with relevant ministries to provide clarity on allocations and policy direction.

While acknowledging the role of civil society in promoting accountability, the Budget Office described calls for resignation as “disproportionate,” urging patience and understanding of institutional processes.
“The BOF remains committed to transparency, but this must be balanced with accuracy and due process. Transparency is a process, not an event,” it added.

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