Tuesday, February 17 2026 -The National Assembly on Monday approved a N1.5tn budget proposal for the Nigerian Army for the 2026 fiscal year, pledging legislative support to ensure the timely release of funds for implementation.
The approval followed a joint budget defence session in
Abuja by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Army, where the
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, presented details of the proposed
expenditure for the coming year.
Speaking after the session, the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, said lawmakers were satisfied with the
presentation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Army in the
discharge of its constitutional duties.
“We had a joint session of the Senate and House of
Representatives Committees on Army on the 2026 budget, and after listening to
the presentation of the Chief of Army Staff, all members expressed satisfaction
with it.
“All members of the joint committee also agreed that the
major issue is the delay in the release of funds, a matter which is affecting
all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“I want to assure the Chief of Army Staff that we are
committed to collaborating with him to succeed.
The army is so critical in our life as a nation, and we
would support you with everything you need,” Yar’Adua said.
His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Aminu
Balele, commended the COAS, officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their
commitment and sacrifice in safeguarding the country.
“As we close the 2026 budget defence, I want to thank my
Senate counterpart, Sen Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and his colleagues for joining hands
with us for this national assignment. I commend the Chief of Army Staff and his
team for their patriotism and commitment.
“In my capacity as the Chairman of the House Committee on
Army, I wish to salute Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for his unwavering support.
“We know the issues involved with budgets, and we are ready
to push and will continue to push for the timely release of funds, so that you
can deliver on your mandates,” he said.
The approval of the N1.5tn allocation comes amid sustained
calls for increased funding of Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly
the armed forces, as the country continues to grapple with insurgency,
banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.
For over a decade, the Nigerian Army has been at the
forefront of counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State
West Africa Province in the North-East.
Troops are also deployed across the North-West and
North-Central regions to confront bandits and criminal networks while
maintaining internal security operations in other parts of the country.
Security analysts and military authorities have repeatedly
argued that the evolving nature of asymmetric warfare requires sustained
investment in modern equipment, intelligence gathering, troop welfare,
logistics, and training.
Delays in the release of appropriated funds, they note, can
slow procurement processes, disrupt operational planning, and affect morale.
With troops engaged on multiple fronts and security
remaining central to economic stability and national cohesion, lawmakers
believe ensuring prompt fund release will be critical to translating the
approved figures into measurable gains on the battlefield.
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