{
  "id": 10569560,
  "title": "Nigeria needs bigger budget to drive development – Bagudu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/nigeria-needs-bigger-budget-to-drive-development-bagudu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T00:44:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nigeria-needs-bigger-budget-to-drive-development-bagudu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria's Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, recently highlighted that the country's national budget is one of the smallest among the top 10 most populous nations, despite its large population and development requirements. Addressing the Senate Press Corps Capacity-Building Workshop in Abuja, Bagudu emphasized the need for a comprehensive national conversation on revenue mobilisation and a broader fiscal space to fund development and attain economic aspirations. He stressed the importance of understanding the national budget's purpose and size relative to the country's needs and questioned whether the current level of public spending is sufficient to achieve development objectives. Bagudu urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations into budget provisions, cautioning against premature conclusions without sufficient context. He also stressed the constitutional role of the National Assembly in the budget process and encouraged a balanced discussion on budget transparency, particularly regarding sensitive information that could impact national security or strategic interests.",
  "summary": "The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, says Nigeria needs a bigger national budget to drive development and meet its economic goals. Read More: https://punchng.com/nigeria-needs-bigger-budget-to-drive-development-bagudu/",
  "key_points": [
    "Nigeria's budget is smallest among top 10 most populous nations.",
    "Atiku Bagudu calls for comprehensive national conversation on revenue mobilisation.",
    "Urges journalists to investigate budget provisions thoroughly."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Nigeria's small budget relative to its population and development needs means the country must have a broader national conversation on revenue mobilisation to fund its economic aspirations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}