Melaye Criticizes Tinubu Over Rising Borrowing, Spending

Former senator Dino Melaye has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over what he described as excessive borrowing and reckless government expenditure.

Speaking in an interview reported by Arise News on September 9, 2025, Melaye alleged that Tinubu’s government has borrowed more than any previous administration, despite promises to reduce wastefulness.

“A president who said he was coming to curb wastefulness has bought a Cadillac and an aircraft, increased the budget of the National Assembly, and borrowed like no other president in history,” Melaye said. He added that Nigerians “won’t be surprised if [Tinubu] starts borrowing from Opay and Moniepoint.”

The former Kogi West senator also claimed that the country’s growing debt profile is worsening inflation, taxation, and the depreciation of the naira, while citizens continue to struggle with poverty and unemployment.

Melaye argued that the administration’s spending contradicts its calls for sacrifice from citizens, warning that the trend is unsustainable and could jeopardize Nigeria’s future.

His remarks have fueled ongoing debates over the federal government’s fiscal policies, with analysts cautioning that unchecked borrowing could limit investment in infrastructure and social welfare in the years ahead.