….pledges stronger discipline in budget execution
President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the challenges in implementing the 2025 budget, highlighting the realities of transition, competing execution demands, and poor revenue performance.
Tinubu acknowledged this in his budget presentation speech before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Friday. The President presented the N58.47 trillion 2026 budget, which he christened the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” to the Assembly.
He informed that as at Q3 2025, the country recorded ₦18.6 trillion in revenue, representing 61% of the target. “That’s poor”, Tinubu said.
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The President also reported ₦24.66 trillion in expenditure, representing 60% of the target.
While fiscal challenges persisted, Tinubu said government met its key obligations. However, he noted that only ₦3.10 trillion, about 17.7% of the 2025 capital budget was released as at Q3, reflecting the emphasis on completing priority 2024 capital projects during the transition period.
The president enthused that revenue will improve in 2026 following the implementation of the tax laws.
“We expect improved revenue performance through the new National Tax Acts and the ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector—reforms designed not merely to raise revenue, but to drive transparency, efficiency, fairness, and long‑term value in our fiscal architecture”, he said.
Drawing lessons from the implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, Tinubu assured that 2026 will be a year of stronger discipline in budget execution.
“Let me be clear: 2026 will be a year of stronger discipline in budget execution. I have issued directives to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Accountant‑General of the Federation, and the Director‑General of the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure that the 2026 Budget is implemented strictly in line with the appropriated details and timelines”, Tinubu said.
He further assured Nigerians that their sacrifices will not be in vain, as the 2026 budget seeks to consolidate on gains made.
According to him, 2026 budget reflects his administration’s determination to lock in macroeconomic stability, deepen competitiveness, and ensure that growth translates into decent jobs, rising incomes, and a better quality of life across the Federation.
