President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval to augment the 2026 Appropriation Bill by N9 trillion. This proposed increase would elevate the total budget from its initial N58.4 trillion to N67.4 trillion.

The request was communicated through a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and was read during a plenary session on Tuesday.

According to the president, this move is intended to bolster fiscal transparency and ensure the effective execution of national priority programs.

Budgetary Objectives and Fiscal Consolidation

Tinubu outlined three primary objectives for this budget revision request. The first objective is to regularize and account for outstanding legacy commitments from prior appropriation cycles, thereby preventing them from burdening the 2026 budget.

The second objective involves consolidating and capturing existing government indebtedness within the fiscal framework. This also includes provisions for a limited number of strategic and priority projects.

The third objective, as stated by the president, is to align the 2026 financing plan with revised expenditures. This alignment is designed to preserve macro-fiscal stability and reduce pressure on the domestic financial market.

The additional N9 trillion is earmarked to ensure that critical national priorities receive adequate funding without compromising fiscal sustainability.

Legislative Review and Next Steps

Following the submission of the president's letter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the request to the Committee on Appropriation. The committee is tasked with conducting a thorough legislative review of the proposal.

The committee will provide its input on the proposed revision before submitting its findings back to the plenary for a final decision. The approval process will carefully consider both fiscal sustainability and the funding requirements for strategic national programs.

The ultimate decision by the Senate will determine the extent to which the 2026 budget can accommodate both legacy obligations and new priority projects without causing economic destabilization.

Earlier in December 2025, President Tinubu had presented the initial 2026 budget to the National Assembly, which included a deficit of N23.85 trillion.