By Huldah Shado
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has queried the Federal Government over what she described as vague private-sector funding plans contained in the 2026-2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).
The senator raised the concern on Monday during an interactive session of the Senate Committee on Finance at the National Assembly, where the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, presented the government’s fiscal outlook.
Akpoti-Uduaghan faulted the minister’s claim that the government intends to “mop up funds” to support the private sector, saying the explanation lacked clarity amid rising taxes and economic hardship.
She asked the minister to specify the source of the proposed funds, questioning whether they would come from taxes, levies or other channels, and how businesses would access them.
“How exactly will the private sector access these funds? Will they be loans or grants, and what are the criteria and conditions for beneficiaries?” she asked, adding that clarity was also needed on whether the funds would address infrastructure gaps such as power, roads and digital access.
Responding, Edun said the Federal Government was exploring the mobilisation of domestic savings, drawing examples from countries such as South Korea, Singapore and China.
He disclosed that discussions were ongoing on a voluntary national savings scheme, stressing that it would not be a form of taxation.
However, the minister did not provide specific details on the source of the funds, access mechanisms or deployment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intervention reflects growing concerns in the Senate over the lack of clarity in key fiscal policies as scrutiny of the MTEF continues ahead of the 2026 budget deliberations.
