President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, marking a significant step in the nation's fiscal planning cycle.
A High-Profile Arrival at the Complex
The President arrived at the National Assembly complex at precisely 2:59 pm on Thursday, December 19, 2025. He was accompanied by a high-powered delegation that included Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The event also saw the presence of several state governors from the ruling party. Notable among them were Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Bassey Otu of Cross River, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. Others in attendance included Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.
Security and Logistics for the Presentation
Ahead of the President's visit, security was significantly tightened within and around the National Assembly complex. Personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed to man all entry points.
Access to the complex was severely restricted. Only staff on essential duties, accredited officers, and a limited number of journalists were permitted entry. Business operators within the complex, including banks and food vendors, were instructed by the management not to open for business due to the high-profile event.
Presiding Officers and Procedural Context
The joint session was presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. This budget presentation is President Tinubu's third since he assumed office on May 29, 2023, following the 2024 and 2025 budget estimates.
The presentation followed a formal request by the President in a letter to both legislative chambers. In the letter, he had asked to be scheduled to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill at noon on Friday, December 19, before the joint session.
The presentation of the 2026 budget sets the stage for the National Assembly's crucial task of scrutinizing, debating, and passing the fiscal document that will guide government spending for the coming year. All eyes are now on the lawmakers as they begin the detailed committee work to examine the estimates presented by the executive.
