The Senate on Tuesday passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill of N68.32 trillion, approving a revised figure higher than the N58.47 trillion earlier presented by President Bola Tinubu in December 2025.
The upper chamber approved the increase after receiving a formal request from the President, who sought an upward review of the budget to reflect additional fiscal demands and national priorities.
The approved budget includes N4.8 trillion for statutory transfers, N15.81 trillion for debt servicing, N15.43 trillion for recurrent expenditure, and N32.29 trillion for capital expenditure. The capital component takes the largest share of the budget.
Lawmakers considered the bill through debates, committee engagements with members of the economic team, and a public hearing involving ministries, departments and agencies, civil society groups, and other stakeholders.
The Appropriations Committee said the adjustments were made to regularise outstanding legacy capital commitments and prevent unresolved obligations from earlier fiscal cycles from weighing on the 2026 budget. The committee also said about 70 per cent of capital projects were rolled over into 2026 because of revenue shortfalls in 2025.
