Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling for greater accountability following revelations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that a significant portion of Nigeria’s 2025 public expenditure was not captured in the national budget.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Obi said the IMF disclosure had heightened concerns about transparency, fiscal discipline, and governance under the current administration.

According to the IMF, public spending equivalent to about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025 was carried out outside the approved budget framework. Obi estimated the figure at approximately N8.83 trillion, arguing that such expenditure escaped legislative oversight and routine administrative scrutiny.

The former Anambra State governor described the development as alarming, noting that the amount exceeded the combined allocations to the education and health sectors in the 2025 budget. He added that the sum represented more than one-third of the nation’s capital expenditure budget for the year.

Obi argued that if properly managed and directed toward key sectors, the funds could have delivered substantial improvements in healthcare, education, industrial growth, and job creation across the country.

He further alleged that the revelation points to a broader pattern of poor financial management and weak accountability mechanisms within government.

According to him, bypassing established budgetary procedures undermines public trust, weakens institutions, and poses long-term risks to economic stability and national development.

Obi maintained that the latest disclosure reinforces concerns he had previously raised about the administration’s performance, including its handling of economic challenges, insecurity, and governance issues.

He urged Nigerians to continue demanding transparency and accountability from public officials, stressing that adherence to due process in public finance management remains critical to national progress.

The IMF disclosure was referenced by its Resident Representative in Nigeria, Christian Ebeke, who stated last week that spending outside the budget framework amounted to about two per cent of GDP in 2025. He noted that the development could make the country’s fiscal deficit appear smaller than its actual financing requirements.

The issue has continued to generate political debate, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently calling on anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the allegations surrounding the reported off-budget expenditure.