By Steven Atokolo
The Senate has approved the revised 2026 Appropriation Bill, pegged at ₦68.32 trillion, following amendments proposed by Bola Tinubu to enhance fiscal stability and address key national priorities.
A breakdown of the budget shows ₦4.79 trillion allocated to statutory transfers, ₦15.43 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, ₦32.29 trillion for capital projects, and ₦15.81 trillion set aside for debt servicing.
Presenting the committee’s observations, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, highlighted a ₦1.7 trillion increase in funding for the Ministry of Works to drive ongoing and new road projects across the six geo-political zones. Lawmakers also noted that about 70 per cent of capital projects were rolled over into 2026 due to revenue shortfalls experienced in 2025.
The committee explained that the revised allocations would enable the government to implement outstanding commitments from the 2025 capital budget within the 2026 fiscal year, while also injecting an additional ₦9 trillion into priority sectors of the economy.
It further observed that the capital component of the 2026 budget surpasses those of previous years, reflecting the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the general welfare of citizens.
The committee recommended approval of the bill, which authorises withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in line with the proposed spending plan, describing the budget as a key step toward translating fiscal policies into measurable national development.
Lawmakers also called for urgent reforms to eliminate bureaucratic delays that hindered fund releases in 2025, stressing the importance of achieving the 2026 budget theme, “From Budget to Impact.”
They urged stronger collaboration between the legislature and the executive to ensure effective and disciplined implementation, while mandating relevant committees to intensify oversight of capital projects to promote accountability and sustainable infrastructure growth.
In addition, the committee proposed extending the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026, to allow for the completion of ongoing projects.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Appropriations Committee and fellow senators for their patriotism and swift passage of the budget.
