President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve an increase of ₦9.3 trillion to the proposed 2026 budget, raising it from ₦58.47 trillion to ₦67.7 trillion.
The request was contained in a letter read during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following lawmakers’ resumption from the two-week Eid-el-Fitr break.
In the letter, Tinubu said the proposed upward review of the budget was largely aimed at regularising outstanding legacy capital projects inherited from previous administrations.
According to him, the adjustment would ensure the completion of ongoing projects captured in earlier budgets.
He added that part of the additional spending would also support key transport infrastructure projects, in line with the administration’s development agenda.
The President further explained that the adjustment was intended to preserve macro-fiscal stability and reduce pressure on the domestic financial market.
The request forms part of the government’s efforts to sustain economic reforms while ensuring the execution of critical development projects across the country.
After reading the letter, Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for further legislative consideration.
The National Assembly is yet to pass the 2026 Appropriation Bill, making the proposed increase the first major amendment to the budget proposal before its final approval.
