By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The National Assembly on Tuesday rejected the 2026 budget proposal of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), declaring that the allocation, as presented, was grossly inadequate to confront the country’s escalating security challenges.
The Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives announced the rejection of the Nigerian Air Force during a budget defence session in Abuja, where the Service reviewed its 2025 budget performance and outlined proposals for the 2026 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Osita Mbu, said lawmakers unanimously agreed that the proposal failed to reflect the operational realities facing the Air Force at a time when the nation is grappling with insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crime.
Mbu said, “The committee carefully reviewed the presentation by the Nigerian Air Force and unanimously rejected the budget as proposed.
“The allocation is inadequate and insufficient to enable the Air Force to sustain the level of firepower and air capability required to curb insurgency at this critical period in the life of the nation.”
He warned that continued underfunding of the Air Force could severely undermine ongoing military operations and weaken national efforts to restore peace and security across troubled parts of the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s worsening security situation requires a more robust, realistic funding framework that matches the intensity and complexity of current threats.
Following the decision, the joint committee established a six-member technical team to coordinate with the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and the leadership of the National Assembly to develop a revised, more realistic budget for the Air Force.
Mbu said the outcome of the engagements would be resubmitted to the joint committee for further consideration and possible approval.
The lawmakers also urged the executive arm of government to fully cooperate with the committee, noting that Nigerians were increasingly anxious for tangible, decisive results in the fight against insecurity.
“Nigerians urgently need results in the war against insurgency and other forms of criminality, and this cannot be achieved without adequately funding the institutions at the forefront of this battle,” he added.
While acknowledging the fiscal constraints facing the Federal Government, the committee chairman explained that the rejection of the Air Force budget was influenced by the rollover of the 2025 capital budget into the 2026 fiscal year, a development that affected many ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
He disclosed that although about 70 per cent of the 2025 capital budget was rolled over into 2026 as a matter of government policy, a substantial portion of those allocations had not yet been released.
Mbu said, “Our position is clear. Whatever funding is allocated to the Nigerian Air Force in the 2026 budget must be sufficient to meet its operational requirements. Anything short of that will not serve the national interest.”
Co-chairman of the joint committee, Kabiru Alhassan, reiterated the concerns, stressing that the Air Force requires sustained, significant investment to effectively combat insurgency, banditry, and other emerging security threats.
He noted that the evolving nature of security challenges makes continuous investment in air assets, logistics, personnel training and equipment maintenance inevitable, warning that inadequate budgetary support could expose the country to greater security risks.
The development reflects growing legislative pressure on the executive to prioritise defence spending, particularly for critical security agencies tasked with protecting lives and property in an increasingly volatile security environment.
