President Bola Tinubu will on Friday, December 19, 2025 present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, barring any last-minute changes.
Ahead of the presentation, a formal communication from the Presidency is expected to be read on both the Senate and House of Representatives floors when plenary resumes on Thursday, notifying lawmakers and National Assembly staff of the President’s appearance.
A letter dated December 17, 2025, sighted by Voice of Nigeria and signed by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the planned budget presentation. The letter was copied to the Deputy Clerk and heads of departments.
According to the correspondence, President Bola Tinubu, “in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” will present the 2026 budget estimates to a joint session of the National Assembly at 2:00 p.m local time on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The letter also outlined security and access arrangements for the day, directing all accredited persons to be at their duty posts by 11:00 a.m local time, and stating that access to the National Assembly complex would be restricted thereafter.
Non-accredited persons were advised to stay away from the National Assembly complex, while staff members — except the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerk of the House, Clerk of the Senate and their deputies — were directed to park their vehicles at designated areas at the Annex or the new car park by the National Assembly Service Gate.
The annual budget presentation formally marks the transmission of the Federal Government’s fiscal proposals for the coming year to the legislature for scrutiny, debate and approval.
Although the 1999 Constitution, as amended, empowers the President to lay budget estimates before each chamber of the National Assembly, successive administrations have adopted the practice of presenting the Appropriation Bill at a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Following the presentation, the Appropriation Bill is referred to relevant committees in both chambers for detailed consideration, public hearings and possible amendments before it is passed and transmitted to the President for assent.
PIAK