Nigeria’s 2026 Budget: Religious Allocations Reignite Debate on State Neutrality and Fiscal Priorities
The Report
As reported by NigerianEye, the Federal Government has allocated approximately N8.05 billion in the 2026 budget for church and mosque-related projects. According to an analysis by the public accountability organisation Tracka, N1.91 billion is designated for church projects and N6.14 billion for mosque projects. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the allocation, questioning the prioritisation of religious projects amid widespread poverty. Activist Aisha Yesufu, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), argued that funds meant for education are being diverted to religious purposes. Arise TV host Rufai Oseni alleged that the allocations are a vehicle for fraud, pointing to specific constituencies—Bende for church projects and Zaria for mosque projects—as evidence of legislative self-dealing.
“What is the business of the State with religion? Why is the Nigerian government funding churches and mosques? Why should churches and mosques be in budget? Monies that should be used to fund education. We are just not a serious country,” Yesufu wrote on X.
“Everything about these lawmakers is fraud. Tax law, fraud, budget fraud. Why is it that the church project went to Bende? Who is from there? Why is it that the Mosque budget went to Zaria? Who is from Zaria? Rubber stamp lawmakers,” Oseni said.
Nigeria Time News Analysis
From a governance perspective, the inclusion of religious infrastructure in a national budget raises fundamental questions about the constitutional separation of state and religion in Nigeria. While Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution prohibits the adoption of any religion as a state religion, the practice of funding religious projects through public budgets has persisted across administrations. This allocation, however, comes at a time of acute fiscal pressure, with Nigeria grappling with record debt service costs, a depreciating naira, and a cost-of-living crisis that has pushed millions into multidimensional poverty.
The N8.05 billion figure, while relatively small in the context of a multi-trillion-naira budget, is symbolically significant. It reinforces perceptions of a political class disconnected from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians. The criticism from figures like Yesufu and Oseni taps into a broader public frustration with opaque budgeting processes and the perceived capture of state resources by political elites. The specific mention of Bende and Zaria—constituencies represented by influential lawmakers—adds a layer of political patronage that undermines trust in the budget as a tool for equitable development.
For the Nigerian diaspora, this story reinforces a familiar narrative of governance inefficiency and misplaced priorities. Many in the diaspora remit billions of dollars annually to support family and community development, often filling gaps left by the state. The allocation of public funds to religious projects, rather than to education, healthcare, or infrastructure, may further erode confidence in the government’s ability to manage resources effectively, potentially influencing investment and remittance behaviour.
Regional Context
Across West Africa, the relationship between state and religion varies significantly. In Senegal, a secular state with a strong Muslim brotherhood tradition, public funds are not typically allocated for religious construction. In Ghana, the state provides limited support for religious institutions through tax exemptions but avoids direct budgetary allocations. Nigeria’s approach, which explicitly funds both Christian and Muslim projects, reflects a delicate balancing act in a deeply religious and ethnically diverse society. However, this practice also exposes the state to accusations of favouritism and fiscal indiscipline, particularly when social spending remains inadequate. The debate over the 2026 budget allocations is therefore not just about N8 billion—it is about the broader question of what the Nigerian state should prioritise in an era of constrained resources and rising public expectations.
Original Reporting By:
NigerianEye