Federal Government Denies ₦8 Trillion Off-Budget Spending Allegation
By Fact Habour News
The Federal Government has denied reports alleging that it spent more than ₦8 trillion outside the approved national budget, describing the claim as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2026 Article IV Consultation Report.
In a statement issued by the government, officials clarified that the IMF report did not state that the Federal Government engaged in unauthorized or off-budget spending amounting to ₦8 trillion. According to the government, the report has been misinterpreted in some media reports and public discussions.
The government explained that the IMF’s Article IV Consultation is a routine economic assessment conducted to evaluate a country’s macroeconomic performance, fiscal policies, and financial outlook. It emphasized that the report does not accuse Nigeria of spending funds outside the legal budgetary framework.
Officials further stated that all government expenditures are subject to constitutional and statutory provisions, including oversight by the National Assembly and relevant regulatory institutions. They maintained that public spending continues to follow established financial management procedures.
The Federal Government urged the public and media organisations to verify information from official sources before drawing conclusions or publishing reports that could mislead citizens and investors.
The clarification comes amid growing public interest in Nigeria’s fiscal management and efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in public finance.
Economic analysts note that accurate interpretation of international financial reports is important for maintaining investor confidence and promoting informed public discourse on the country’s economic policies.
Keywords: Federal Government, ₦8 trillion spending, IMF Article IV Consultation Report 2026, Nigeria budget, public finance, fiscal transparency, government expenditure, Fact Habour News.
