Bayelsa PDP faults the proposed ₦1.24tn budget, alleging weak spending performance and worsening poverty under Governor Douye Diri

The Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State has criticised the proposed ₦1.24tn 2027 budget of Governor Douye Diri’s administration, accusing the government of failing to tackle poverty, hunger and unemployment despite substantial budgetary allocations.

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The opposition party questioned the justification for the proposed spending plan, citing what it described as poor implementation of the state’s 2026 budget and the limited impact of government expenditure on residents’ living conditions.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ikaebimo Mark, the PDP expressed concern over the reported 15 per cent performance of the 2026 budget, describing the figure as evidence of weak implementation and inadequate delivery of development projects.

The party said many households across Bayelsa continued to face multidimensional poverty, rising living costs, unemployment and limited access to essential services.

“For many Bayelsans, the 2026 budget has yet to translate into improved living conditions, as a significant proportion of residents continue to grapple with multidimensional poverty, rising living costs, unemployment and limited access to essential services,” the statement said.

The PDP argued that government performance should be assessed by the improvements citizens experience rather than the size of annual budgetary provisions.

“A budget’s true measure is not the amount appropriated, but the positive difference it makes in the lives of the people,” it added.

Questioning the proposed ₦1.24tn 2027 budget, the party said the state government had yet to demonstrate its capacity to fulfil existing budgetary commitments effectively.

It also alleged that the proposed fiscal plan lacked clear and practical strategies for addressing poverty, hunger and unemployment.

The opposition party called for greater attention to critical sectors, including electricity, healthcare, education, food security and employment, saying residents needed measurable improvements rather than large budget figures.

“Bayelsans need more than huge budget figures; they need reliable electricity, functional healthcare, affordable education, food security, job opportunities and an enabling environment for businesses and industries,” the statement said.

The PDP further called on the Diri administration to explain how the proposed 2027 spending plan would ease the economic difficulties facing households and expand opportunities for unemployed residents.

It urged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to subject the budget proposal to thorough and transparent scrutiny before considering its approval.

The party said lawmakers should examine the assumptions behind the proposal, review allocations and demand clear implementation targets that address the state’s development needs.

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“Lawmakers must discharge their constitutional responsibility by interrogating the assumptions, examining the allocations and demanding clear implementation targets that address the pressing needs of Bayelsans,” the statement added.