Since President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima took office in May 2023, they have formed at least 46 presidential committees which have incurred budget allocations exceeding N13 billion within just a couple of years. An analysis of budget documents from 2023 to 2026, alongside data from the public finance transparency platform GovSpend, reveals that out of the total, N12.99 billion has been specifically allocated for longstanding presidential committees. Additionally, at least N105.97 million has been traced to disbursements to individuals and companies that provide services for various ad hoc panels.

The financial implications of these expenditures are significant when compared to previous administrations. The total of N13.1 billion spent on these committees represents about 62% of the N21.17 billion that was spent over a span of seven years from 2018 to 2025 under the prior administration. During the reviewed timeframe, annual committee-related spending stands at N4.37 billion, which indicates a stark rise from the N3 billion annual average expenditure recorded between 2018 and 2022 before Tinubu’s administration began its tenure. This increase in spending raises questions about fiscal discipline and governance priorities within the current administration.

As the government navigates through economic challenges, the significant financial outlay towards presidential panels prompts discussions on the efficiency and efficacy of these committees. The high costs involved could be viewed as a burden on Nigeria’s budget, especially if tangible results are not achieved from the committees' initiatives. Stakeholders will be closely monitoring the outcomes of these committees to assess whether the investments translate into better governance and public service delivery, or if they merely contribute to a rising expenditure without adequate returns.