*Hon. Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele
The Federal Ministry of Finance has strongly refuted recent media reports alleging hidden spending and diversion of federation revenues, describing them as misrepresentations of the latest Nigeria Development Update released by the World Bank. In a press statement issued on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the ministry clarified that such claims stem from a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s fiscal system, particularly the operations of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The statement, signed by Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, emphasised that FAAC deductions are not “waste” or leakages but legitimate fiscal flows.
According to the ministry, FAAC deductions include statutory transfers, savings and investments, security-related expenditures, cost-of-collection charges, refunds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and transfers and interventions that directly benefit subnational governments. It stressed that refunds and transfers to states and other tiers of government represent legitimate repayments of obligations and statutorily backed allocations, rather than any form of diversion. The ministry warned that characterising these as missing funds distorts the true nature of public financial management in Nigeria.
The statement criticised some commentaries for their selective use of outdated data while ignoring the forward-looking aspects of the World Bank report. It highlighted ongoing public financial management reforms, including the recently signed Executive Order aimed at safeguarding the remittance of petroleum revenues. These measures, the ministry noted, are expected to enhance transparency and increase revenues available to all tiers of government by approximately 0.4% of GDP annually. The reforms implemented in early 2026 are already addressing previous concerns around deductions.
Despite the controversies, the ministry pointed out that the broader message of the World Bank report remains positive, reflecting stronger macroeconomic fundamentals under the current administration. These include more broad-based economic growth across sectors, a gradual decline in inflation due to deliberate policy actions, a strengthened external position with improved reserves and a current account surplus, as well as an improved debt-to-GDP ratio—the first decline in over a decade.
In conclusion, the Federal Ministry of Finance reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening fiscal transparency, improving revenue mobilisation, and ensuring efficient public spending. It urged stakeholders, media organisations, and the public to engage constructively with fiscal information and avoid interpretations that could undermine ongoing reform efforts or fuel public discord. The ministry maintained that the World Bank report affirms that reforms are working and need to be sustained for inclusive growth.
Read full statement…
FALSE ALLEGATION OF HIDDEN SPENDING AND DIVERSION OF FEDERATION REVENUE
The attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance has been drawn to recent media reports and commentaries that misrepresent the findings of the latest Nigeria Development Update by the World Bank, particularly claims suggesting that a significant portion of federation earnings is being “diverted” or constitutes “hidden spending”.
These interpretations misrepresent the World Bank’s analysis and reflect a misunderstanding of the fiscal system.
MISINTERPRETATION OF FAAC DEDUCTIONS
The misreporting in question incorrectly characterises Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) deductions as “waste” or missing funds. This is incorrect.
FAAC deductions, as presented in the World Bank report, include:
Statutory transfers,
Savings and investments,
Security-related expenditures,
Cost-of-collection charges,
Refunds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),
Transfers and interventions benefiting subnational governments.
It is important to emphasise that refunds and transfers to states and other tiers of government are not leakages. They represent legitimate fiscal flows, including repayments of obligations and statutorily backed allocations.
SELECTIVE USE OF OUTDATED DATA
Some commentaries selectively relied on past data while ignoring the forward-looking analysis and ongoing public financial management reforms highlighted in the report.
The World Bank explicitly notes that reforms implemented in early 2026, including the recently signed Executive Order to safeguard remittance of petroleum revenues, are already addressing concerns around deductions, and are expected to improve transparency while increasing revenues available to all tiers of government by about 0.4% of GDP annually.
Misinterpreting one aspect of the analysis without acknowledging the progressive reforms and measures already introduced to enhance distributable federation revenues gives a distorted picture.
STRONGER MACROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS
The broader message of the World Bank report is positive and forward-looking:
Economic growth is becoming more broad-based across sectors.
Inflation, while still elevated, is declining due to deliberate policy actions.
Nigeria’s external position has strengthened significantly, with improved reserves and a current account surplus.
Debt indicators have improved, including a decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio, the first in over a decade.
These developments reflect the outcomes of the current administration’s ongoing macroeconomic policies and public financial management reforms.
THE REAL MESSAGE OF THE REPORT
The World Bank does not conclude that Nigeria’s fiscal system is collapsing or that reforms have failed. Rather, it states that reforms are working, and they must be sustained and deepened to translate macroeconomic gains into inclusive growth.
CONCLUSION
The Federal Government remains committed to strengthening fiscal transparency, improving revenue mobilisation, ensuring efficient public spending, and deepening reforms to support inclusive economic growth.
An accurate understanding and responsible reporting of fiscal information are critical to maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s reform trajectory and economic outlook.
We urge stakeholders, media organisations, and the public to engage constructively with fiscal information and avoid twisted interpretations that may undermine reform efforts and fuel public discord.
Signed
Taiwo Oyedele
Honourable Minister of State for Finance,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
April 19, 2026
