Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have said the 2026 federal budget should contain specific and targeted policies for the poorest of the poor in the transport, food, energy, sectors considering the high cost of living.
The CSOs made the call in a joint press conference on: “The Nigeria Economic and Fiscal Environments: The growing concerns on the approaches to the country’s public finance management” on Tuesday in Abuja, insisting that the interventions should be devoid of cash distribution.
The Lead Director of Civil Social Justice (CSJ) Eze Onyekpere called for a developed targeted, data-driven social protection framework linked to savings from subsidy removal, focusing on transport, food security, and energy access for vulnerable Nigerians.
On the refineries, Onyekpere urged the federal government to investigate, prosecute and punish persons who participated in the mismanagement of the refineries starting from those in charge of wasting $2.9 billion without results in the last four years.
He said, they should consider selling or concessioning the refineries so that Nigerians can derive some value from them.
“Leaving them idle will only condemn them to a scrap value whenever a decision will be made in future in consideration that these are old refineries which will compete in the same market with the brand-new Dangote Refinery.
On the Electricity Industry, he said the Distribution Companies should be held accountable to their obligations to invest, manage and improve the distribution end of electricity.
Also, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu said the Federal Electricity Regulator should hold the transmission subsector accountable for the reduction of transmission losses.
He said the transmission grid should be improved through new investments.
“There should be a public account and value for money audit of the expenditure of billions of dollars in loans incurred over the years by Nigeria for the improvement of the Electricity Industry,” Mamedu.
Also, the Head of Programs and Policy, Celestine Okwudili Odo said the Debt Management Office should start the publication of the debt update every quarter – not later than 30 days after each quarter in line with fit and good practices.
