Nigeria: ActionAid Urges Tinubu, Governors to Cut Wasteful Spending, Invest in Education, Healthcare

What the report says

ActionAid Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu and state governors to curb wasteful public spending and channel more of the country’s limited resources into education, healthcare and other services with direct social impact. The appeal, reported by This Day and distributed by AllAfrica, was made in Abuja after Tinubu asked governors to avoid building unnecessary flyovers where traffic congestion is not a problem.

In a statement signed by Country Director Andrew Mamedu, the group said the president’s remarks should lead to a wider discussion about public finance and the need to put citizens’ needs ahead of projects chosen mainly for visibility. ActionAid said Nigeria’s challenge is less about a lack of resources and more about how budgets are prioritized, especially at a time when many people are facing economic hardship.

The organization pointed to proposed 2026 allocations for travel, food and refreshments for Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, saying even a partial reduction could free funds for school buildings, boreholes and primary healthcare centres. It also called for cuts to luxury purchases, oversized delegations, and discretionary spending, while urging more transparency in government expenditure.

ActionAid said federal and state budgets should focus on education, primary healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, climate resilience and social protection. It also backed evidence-based infrastructure planning and stronger public participation in budgeting and oversight.