The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not include public expenditure amounting to approximately N8.8 trillion, or 2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in its recent national budgets. This omission has led to a discrepancy between the reported fiscal deficit and the actual financing requirements of the country, according to the IMF's Resident Representative.

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has called for an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into the International Monetary Fund's claim that Nigeria has spent N8.8 trillion off-budget, which he states is equivalent to 2% of the country's GDP, according to ThisDay Live.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern regarding an IMF report that reveals ₦8.8 trillion in federal expenditures were not included in official budget records. He accused the Tinubu administration of operating a "parallel fiscal universe" in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. This statement was made following the release of the IMF's Article IV report on July 1, 2026.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on the Nigerian federal government to clarify the whereabouts of what he terms the 'missing' two percent of the country's GDP, following a disclosure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Peter Obi has called for accountability from the Tinubu administration in response to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that highlights ₦8.83 trillion in off-budget spending. He has raised concerns about potential grand corruption linked to this financial discrepancy.

As Nigeria enters the second half of 2026, questions arise regarding the effectiveness of the country's record budget, which was recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Festus Akanbi reviews an analysis by BudgIT that highlights the challenges and concerns surrounding the budget's implementation and its potential impact on the economy.