Tinubu Seeks Parliamentary Audience to Present N54.46trn Budget

President Bola Tinubu has formally requested an audience with the House of Representatives to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill. In a letter addressed to the House, read aloud by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on Thursday, Tinubu sought to schedule the presentation for noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, before a joint session of the National Assembly.

“I write to crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 12:00 noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, to formally present the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly,” the letter stated.

According to reports, the proposed budget is substantial, with a total size of N54.46 trillion, as outlined in the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) currently under consideration by the House. The government expects to retain N34.33 trillion in revenue, while new borrowings are projected to reach N17.88 trillion, comprising both domestic and foreign loans. Debt service is estimated to be N15.52 trillion.

The presentation of the budget is a crucial step in the legislative process, and Tinubu’s request underscores the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in fiscal planning. The joint session will provide lawmakers with the opportunity to scrutinize the budget and engage with the President on key priorities for the upcoming year.