As millions of Nigerians grapple with deepening economic hardship, the federal government has earmarked over ₦200 million in the 2026 appropriation bill for media-related activities under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, including specific funding to mobilise pro-government influencers and bloggers.
Detailed breakdowns from the official appropriation documents, reveal allocations such as ₦21 million dedicated to engaging and mobilising online influencers and bloggers in support of government initiatives.
Additional line items include ₦14 million for weekly briefings with online publishers, ₦30.8 million for town hall meetings, and ₦24.3 million for social media development and related engagements.
The total package for these media and publicity efforts exceeds ₦200 million, forming part of broader spending by the ministry amid a national budget of ₦58.18 trillion presented by Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly in December 2025.
The budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” prioritises security (₦5.41 trillion), education and health (combined ₦6 trillion), and infrastructure, while aiming to build on recent macroeconomic reforms such as moderated inflation and improved external reserves.
However, the publicity-focused spending has sparked sharp criticism at a time when poverty projections paint a grim picture for the country.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026 report released earlier this week, the poverty rate is expected to climb to 62% this year, affecting approximately 141 million people.
The firm attributes the rise to weak real income growth, persistent inflationary pressures — especially on food, which consumes up to 70% of household spending among lower-income groups — and the lingering effects of economic reforms.
The World Bank has echoed similar concerns, forecasting that poverty will peak at around 62% (141 million people) in 2026 before a marginal decline in 2027.
Without stronger interventions in job creation, productivity, and social protection programmes, experts warn that millions more could slip deeper into hardship.
Social media users and commentators have quickly highlighted the apparent disconnect.
Many describe the influencer and blogger allocation as a form of “institutionalised propaganda” or payments to “sycophants,” questioning why resources are directed toward shaping online narratives rather than direct poverty alleviation measures like expanded cash transfers, food subsidies, or job schemes.
The Ministry of Information has not yet issued a detailed public response to inquiries about the specific line items, though Minister Mohammed Idris has previously defended the 2026 budget as a tool to “solidify the gains” of ongoing reforms and maintain transparent communication with citizens.
As the National Assembly continues its review of the appropriation bill, the contrast between publicity spending and the scale of projected poverty is fuelling renewed debate about fiscal priorities in a nation where over half the population may soon live below the poverty line.
Critics argue that true consolidation of economic gains requires tangible relief for ordinary Nigerians, not amplified government messaging.
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