The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the state government over the alleged 15 per cent performance of the 2026 budget.

The PDP has also raised concerns over the N1.24 trillion budget estimates Governor Douye Diri presented to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Tuesday.

The party, in a statement on Wednesday by Ikaebimo Mark, State Publicity Secretary, said the proposed 2027 budget has no provisions to address hunger, poverty and unemployment, among others.

It said, “The reported 15 per cent performance of the 2026 budget is a troubling reflection of poor budget implementation and a failure to translate public resources into meaningful benefits for citizens.”

The party said the poor implementation of the budget is reflected in harsh economic realities facing households across the state.

“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.

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

Read also: Bloody 2027 likely as INEC, security agencies adopt a ‘sidon-look’ posture

On the proposed 2027 budget, PDP raised questions over the realism of the N1.24 trillion figure, accusing the state government of failure “to demonstrate satisfactory implementation of its current fiscal commitments.”

The statement further read: “Beyond its impressive headline figure, the proposed budget offers insufficient clarity on practical interventions to tackle poverty, hunger and unemployment.

“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.”

PDP insisted that budgetary promises must be matched by transparency, credible implementation and measurable improvements in the lives of ordinary Bayelsans, saying, “The government must explain how this proposal will deliver these urgent priorities.”

The party also called on the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to subject the proposed 2027 budget to rigorous, independent and transparent scrutiny, rather than treating it as a document for automatic approval.

It said, “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.”