President Bola Tinubu is expected to appear before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, December 19, to present the 2026 appropriation bill.
Preparations are underway for the appearance, with a presidential notice expected to be formally announced when the house of representatives reconvenes on Thursday.
The notice is contained in an internal communication dated December 17, issued from the office of the clerk to the National Assembly.
The letter was signed by Essien Eyo Essien, secretary of human resources and staff development, acting on behalf of Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk to the National Assembly.
Copies of the communication were circulated to the deputy clerk and departmental heads within the National Assembly bureaucracy.
The correspondence stated that Tinubu, “in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” would formally lay the 2026 budget estimates before lawmakers at 2pm.
It outlined access and security arrangements, directing accredited personnel to assume their official positions by 11:00am, after which entry into the complex “will be restricted thereafter.”
Non-accredited individuals were advised not to attempt entry into the National Assembly premises during the budget presentation.
The letter further stated that “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 Annexe or the new car park by the National Assembly Service Gate.”
The annual presentation signals the formal submission of the federal government’s spending and revenue framework to the legislature for legislative consideration.
Although the constitution allows the president to transmit estimates separately to each chamber, administrations over the years have adopted the practice of addressing both chambers jointly.
The joint sitting provides an opportunity for the president to highlight fiscal priorities, economic assumptions and policy direction for the coming year.
Following the address, the appropriation bill is forwarded to relevant committees in both chambers for review, stakeholder engagement and possible revisions before final passage.