Senator Dickson Accuses Tinubu of Prioritizing 2027 Politics Over Budget Implementation

In a bold critique on the floor of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of placing political ambition ahead of national development, citing delays in implementing the capital portion of the 2024 budget.

During Tuesday’s plenary session, Senator Dickson expressed concern that the federal government has failed to release funds for capital projects, despite fully disbursing the recurrent expenditure meant for salaries and administrative operations.

“Government has grounded, that’s what it means,” he declared. “Contractors who have delivered on government projects remain unpaid. The benefits of the budget, which we all worked hard to pass, have not reached the people.”

The senator lamented that the development component of the national budget, which directly affects infrastructure and service delivery, remains untouched. He referenced recent reports of protests by aggrieved contractors, stating that many lawmakers were aware of the growing frustration.

Dickson made his remarks during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation. The motion sought to extend the implementation deadline for the 2024 capital budget to December 31, 2025.

While supporting the motion, Dickson criticized the absence of a compelling explanation for the delayed budget rollout. He suggested that excessive focus on political strategies and defections ahead of the 2027 general elections may be distracting the administration from core governance responsibilities.

“Maybe there is too much preoccupation with politics and 2027,” he said. “Maybe there is too much concentration on receiving defectors, while no one is looking at the big picture.”

He warned that both the executive and legislative arms are neglecting their constitutional responsibilities, despite increased revenue following the removal of fuel subsidies.

“The availability of money is not the issue. State and local governments are receiving more funds than ever before. So, what is the reason for the delay?”

Dickson called for an urgent investigation into the matter, urging the Senate Committees on Appropriation and Finance to conduct a joint inquiry and present findings within a week.

“We need answers. These committees should undertake a fact-finding mission and report back to the Senate so this situation does not repeat itself.”

The senator’s comments reflect growing concerns over the Tinubu administration’s governance priorities and the real-world impact of delayed infrastructure spending on citizens and contractors alike.