Former Kogi West Senator and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dino Melaye, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress over the poor release of capital funds to six federal ministries, questioning the government’s commitment to addressing critical developmental challenges.
Melaye raised the concerns in a post on his X handle, @_dinomelaye, where he listed the approved capital budgets of the ministries alongside the amounts they reportedly received, highlighting what he described as a significant disparity in government funding.
The figures, he argued, raise questions about the government’s spending priorities and its commitment to delivering on its promises.
According to the figures shared by the former lawmaker, the Ministry of Women Affairs received only N394.8m from its N89.8bn capital budget, representing 0.44 per cent of the allocation.
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy received N202m out of its N353bn budget, while the Ministry of Transportation got N2.5bn from its N256.7bn allocation.
He further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development received N2bn from its N100bn capital budget, despite Nigeria’s housing deficit being estimated at more than 22 million units.
Similarly, the Ministry of Water Resources reportedly received N1bn out of its N80bn capital allocation, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security got N3bn from its N120bn budget.
The figures raise questions about the Federal Government’s capital budget implementation, particularly in sectors considered crucial to economic growth, food security, infrastructure development, housing delivery and improved living conditions.
Melaye has been an outspoken critic of the APC-led administration and has repeatedly questioned its handling of the country’s political and economic affairs.
The former senator left the Peoples Democratic Party for the ADC in July 2025, citing the PDP’s inability to provide effective opposition and offer Nigerians an alternative to what he described as the country’s prevailing governance challenges.
In August 2025, he described the PDP as a “parastatal of the APC”, alleging that the opposition party had lost its independence and capacity to challenge the government effectively.
He also declared his support for the ADC as an alternative political platform capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 general election.
Meanwhile, capital expenditure remains a critical component of government budgeting, as it provides funding for long-term projects such as roads, housing, water facilities, agricultural infrastructure and public institutions.
The reported low disbursements have renewed attention on the gap between approved government budgets and actual releases, as Nigerians continue to demand improved infrastructure, affordable housing, food security and better public services.
