Tinubu presents N58.18trn 2026 budget, projects economic stability

President Bola Tinubu has presented a N58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, declaring that Nigeria’s economy is showing clear signs of stabilisation after years of structural challenges.

Tinubu said the 2026 Budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” is designed to consolidate recent economic gains and translate recovery into improved living standards for Nigerians.

According to him, Nigeria recorded 3.98 per cent economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, while inflation declined to 14.45 per cent in November 2025 from 24.23 per cent in March.

“With stabilising food and energy prices, tighter monetary conditions, and improving supply responses, we expect the disinflationary trend to persist — so that inflation continues to decline further over the 2026 horizon, barring major supply shocks,” Tinubu said during the budget presentation on Friday, December 19, 2025.

FEC approves N58.47trn 2026 budget proposal

The president also noted improvements in oil production, rising non-oil revenues, renewed investor confidence, and external reserves hitting a seven-year high of about $47 billion.

Tinubu said the budget projects N34.33 trillion in revenue and a deficit of N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of GDP, stressing that the fiscal framework is anchored on realism, prudence, and growth.

He assured lawmakers that 2026 would witness stricter discipline in budget execution, adding that every naira spent or borrowed must deliver measurable public value.

The Star