The National Assembly Joint Committees on the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday rejected the 2026 budget proposal of the Nigerian Air Force, citing inadequate funding amid worsening security challenges across the country.
The decision followed a joint budget defence session by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Air Force, where service chiefs presented the Air Force’s 2025 budget performance and its estimates for the 2026 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, announced the rejection, saying lawmakers were unanimous in their decision after reviewing the proposal in line with prevailing security realities.
“The committee unanimously reviewed the presentation by the Air Force and rejected the budget as proposed,” Ngwu said.
He explained that the proposed allocation was grossly inadequate to meet the operational demands placed on the Air Force at a time when the country is grappling with heightened insecurity.
“The budget is inadequate and insufficient to fund the Nigerian Air Force in maintaining the level of firepower and air capability required to curb insurgency at this critical time in the country,” he added.
Nigeria is currently facing multiple security threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and parts of the North-Central, as well as kidnapping and other criminal activities in several regions.
The Nigerian Air Force plays a critical role in providing air support to ground troops, as well as conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
In response to the funding concerns, Ngwu disclosed that the joint committee had resolved to constitute a six-member panel to engage relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the panel will liaise with the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and the leadership of the National Assembly to develop a more realistic and responsive budget proposal for the Air Force.
He said the revised proposal would be presented to the joint committee for consideration and approval.
The committee also urged the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the process, stressing the urgency of strengthening the country’s security architecture.
“Nigerians urgently need effective action against insurgency,” Ngwu stated.
While acknowledging the fiscal constraints facing the Federal Government, Ngwu noted that about 70 per cent of the 2025 capital budget for ministries, departments, and agencies was rolled over into the 2026 fiscal year as part of government policy.
However, he maintained that the rollover had not translated into meaningful funding, as a significant portion of the capital allocations remained unreleased.
He said the committee’s position was guided by the need to ensure that any provision eventually made for the Air Force would be sufficient to meet its operational responsibilities.
“Whatever funding is provided in the 2026 budget must be sufficient to adequately support the operational needs of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.
In a similar vein, the Co-Chairman of the committee, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan, stressed that sustained and increased funding for the Air Force was critical to addressing insecurity nationwide.
“The Nigerian Air Force requires substantial funding to effectively combat insurgency, banditry, and other criminal activities across the country,” Alhassan said.
The rejection of the proposal adds to growing concerns within the National Assembly over defence funding, as lawmakers continue to warn that underfunding security agencies could undermine efforts to restore peace and stability across Nigeria.
