NASS Approves ₦1.504tn Nigerian Army Budget

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Assembly of Nigeria has approved the Nigerian Army’s ₦1.504 trillion 2026 budget, pledging to address persistent delays in fund releases that lawmaker say are weakening defence operations across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

At a joint budget defence session with Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, said lawmakers were satisfied with the Army’s proposals but worried that late disbursements could derail implementation.

He described the spending plan as sound but warned that sluggish release of appropriated funds remains a major challenge affecting several MDAs.

Yar’Adua assured the Army leadership that the committees would work with the executive arm to ensure timely access to funds, stressing that the Army is “critical to national survival.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Aminu Balele, praised troops for their efforts in counter-insurgency operations and territorial defence, pledging continued legislative backing.

Balele also commended Tajudeen Abbas for his support and reiterated the committee’s resolve to push for prompt release of funds to improve the Army’s operational effectiveness.