Tinubu to present 2026 budget at joint session of National Assembly Friday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally approached the Senate, seeking approval to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill before a joint sitting of the National Assembly.

The request was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President during plenary, in which the President proposed Friday at 2:00 p.m. as the time for the budget presentation.

However, the proposed schedule immediately drew attention from some lawmakers, who raised concerns that the timing would clash with Muslim Jumat prayers. They appealed for a reconsideration to accommodate all members.

Responding to the concerns, the Senate President assured the chamber that he would consult with President Tinubu to resolve the issue and arrive at a more suitable time.

The move signals the start of another crucial budget cycle under the Tinubu administration, coming on the heels of last year’s historic presentation. On December 18, 2024, the President presented the ₦49.7 trillion 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly — a proposal nearly ₦20 trillion higher than the 2024 budget.

Key allocations in the 2025 spending plan included ₦4.91 trillion for defence and security, ₦4.06 trillion for infrastructure, ₦2.4 trillion for health, and ₦3.5 trillion for education.

Earlier, in December 2023, Tinubu had unveiled his first budget as President — a ₦27.5 trillion proposal for 2024. The National Assembly later increased the figure by ₦1.2 trillion, approving a final sum of ₦28.7 trillion.

In the 2025 budget framework, the President projected crude oil production at 2.06 million barrels per day and expressed optimism that Nigeria would import fewer finished petroleum products while exporting more refined products.

Reaffirming his economic agenda, Tinubu maintained that his reforms were already delivering positive results. “The reforms yielding results, no reversals,” the President declared.

He also stressed the urgency of collective action against corruption and insecurity, describing them as major threats to national progress. “These challenges are surmountable when we work collaboratively. We must rewrite the narrative of this nation,” he said.

“The time for lamentation is over. The time to act is now,” Tinubu added.

With the request now before the Senate, attention is expected to shift to final arrangements for the presentation of the 2026 budget, which will outline the administration’s next fiscal priorities.