Makinde challenges Tinubu to disclose 2026 budgetary provision for army expansion - Premium Times Nigeria

The Executive governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde.

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has questioned the funding and planning behind the federal government’s proposed expansion of Army divisions, asking the administration of President Bola Tinubu to identify the provision made for the exercise in the 2026 budget.

Mr Makinde, who is also the governor of Oyo State, said announcing the expansion of military formations without adequate financial and operational planning would not be enough to address persistent insecurity, particularly in the North-central.

He spoke on Monday at the APM North-central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, where he also criticised the federal government’s economic policies and outlined aspects of his party’s proposed agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I was looking at the budget for 2026. I was looking for the item in that budget relating to the expansion of those Army divisions. I did not see it.

“If they have it in the budget that they prepared for 2026, let them bring it out. So, you cannot just wake up and say, well, without any plan, I am setting up or expanding Army divisions to tackle insecurity. There has to be a lot of planning that will go into this,” he said.

The federal government recently proposed the establishment and expansion of military formations as part of its response to Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in areas affected by terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality.

Mr Makinde said tackling insecurity required a clear funding structure, operational planning and consultation with affected communities rather than policy announcements alone.

He contrasted the approach with the budget process in Oyo State, where he said his administration had begun consultations with residents across the state’s geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 budget.

According to him, the consultations were designed to enable the government to identify the needs and priorities of residents before finalising its spending plans.

The APM candidate also questioned whether the increase in allocations to state governments from the Federation Account had translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.

“Yes, they claim we have more money, that is, the state governments. The state governments were collecting more money from the Federation Account. I am not arguing with that.

“Yes, in terms of the totality of the money, yes, we have more money, but has it translated to fighting hunger in our society? The answer is no,” he said.

Mr Makinde said Oyo State depended on federal allocation for more than 80 per cent of its revenue when he assumed office in 2019.

He said his administration reduced the state’s dependence to about 65 per cent by 2022 but claimed it had since risen to almost 80 per cent.

He attributed the increase to what he described as the federal government’s “voodoo economy.”

“By 2023, when they came on board with their voodoo economy, the resultant effect is that today Oyo State is back to almost 80 per cent dependence on federal allocation. That is their voodoo economy,” he said.

Speaking about his presidential ambition, Mr Makinde said his proposed “Reset Nigeria” agenda could be implemented within four years if elected.

He said the agenda would focus on security, education, the economy, and the country’s socio-political environment.

“The reset agenda can be completed in four years. After all, we had someone who was head of state in this country for 10 months, and he was able to end military rule and usher in the democracy that we now enjoy in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Makinde also said an APM government would establish a transitional Government of National Unity from 29 May 2027, which he said would eventually produce “new players and a new agenda for Nigeria’s sustainable development”.

The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the proposed reset was based on what he described as Nigerians’ demand for tangible improvements in their lives.

“We don’t need to say that, for quite some time, people have been given the opportunity to rule this nation without really having an idea of how to fix it. I need to borrow a common phrase: it is always motion without movement. Ours is going to be motion with movement for the betterment of Nigerians and Nigeria,” Mr Daura said.

He said the party’s proposed approach would be based on sincerity, honesty, commitment and results, citing poverty and insecurity among the problems confronting Nigerians.

The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, described the North-central as important to Nigeria’s unity and development. At the same time, he highlighted insecurity and poor roads among the challenges confronting the region.

Mr Dantalle also criticised the cost of petrol and electricity supply and urged Nigerians to demand accountability from the federal government over its previous promises on electricity.

He asked voters in Oyo State to assess Mr Makinde’s record as governor when considering the party’s presidential candidate.

“Oyo State is your laboratory to evaluate the capability of our presidential candidates,” he said.

Mr Dantalle said the APM’s proposed agenda would include a new security architecture, changes to the education system and an economy driven by data, science, and logic.

The party leaders used the town hall meeting to present their proposed policies and engage supporters and residents in the North-central ahead of the 2027 elections.