Poverty Programmes Receive Less Than 1% of 2026 Budget

The Federal Government’s 2026 budget proposal reveals that only a very small portion of the total spending is dedicated to poverty reduction. Out of the N58.47 trillion budget plan, about N206.5 billion is set aside for programmes aimed at reducing poverty. This amount represents less than 1% of the total budget, highlighting a limited financial commitment to addressing the growing hardship in the country.

A breakdown of the budget shows that the bulk of the poverty allocation is concentrated in a few major budget lines. The largest share is captured under the Service Wide Vote, especially within the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS). This suggests that poverty reduction is mainly being handled through centralised government programmes rather than through individual ministries.

Without the Service Wide Vote items, poverty-focused funding across ministries would be extremely low. In fact, the combined allocation from various ministries for poverty-related projects would amount to only a small fraction of the total, indicating that most ministries did not prioritise poverty reduction in their budget submissions.

The limited funding raises questions about how effective the 2026 budget will be in improving living standards for Nigerians, many of whom continue to face rising costs and economic difficulties. While poverty reduction is mentioned in the budget document, the actual resources dedicated to it appear insufficient to create meaningful change, leaving concerns over whether the government’s plan can truly reduce poverty in the country.