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The member of the House of Representatives, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadigbo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Philip Agbese, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies( MDAs) to sustain efforts towards improving budget execution.
Agbese, who commended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, over the Federal Government’s budget performance in the second quarter of 2026, implored MDAs to strengthen accountability and ensuring that allocations translated into measurable benefits for Nigerians.
He noted that “the ultimate test of any budget or external borrowing plan is its impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Beyond the figures, we want to see better roads, improved healthcare, quality education, jobs and opportunities for our people. That is why budget implementation must remain a priority.”
The lawmaker, who is also the Deputy Spokesman of the House, in an interview with journalists, on Thursday, said the second quarter budget performance reflect efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen fiscal management and improve the implementation of national budget priorities.
A recent report by the Budget Office indicates that that government revenue stood at about N11.9 trillion in the first half of the year and that the economy expanded by 4.43 per cent in Q2 2026, marking its strongest quarterly growth since Q3 2024.
Agbese, while reaction to the budget performance, noted that “These numbers show that deliberate efforts are being made to improve the management of our economy. We must acknowledge the work being done by the Ministers of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning to strengthen fiscal coordination and ensure that national priorities are reflected in government spending.
“While there is still considerable work to be done, we should be able to recognise progress where it is being made. The figures indicate that the economy is responding to ongoing reforms, and the responsibility before us is to sustain that momentum.”
According to him,the roles played by Oyedele and Bagudu in coordinating fiscal and budgetary policies deserved recognition, particularly as the country worked to improve revenue generation, manage public expenditure and address funding needs across critical sectors.
“The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy alongside his counterpart, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning occupy strategic positions in the implementation of the administration’s economic agenda. Their ability to work together, align fiscal policies and improve budget coordination is important to achieving the desired results,” he said.
The Deputy Spokesman, in his reaction to the request by President Bola Tinubu for approval for the implementation of new external borrowing contained in the 2026 Appropriations Act to the tune of about N10.8 trillion, said there was need to strengthen cooperation in addressing the country’s development and infrastructural financing needs.
