The National Assembly Joint Committees on the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday rejected the 2026 budget proposal of the Nigerian Air Force, raising concerns over inadequate funding and worsening insecurity across the country.
The decision was taken during a joint budget defence session by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Air Force, where service chiefs presented the Air Force 2025 budget performance and projections for 2026.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, announced that lawmakers were unanimous in rejecting the proposal as submitted.
According to Ngwu, the committee took the decision after carefully reviewing the budget estimates against the current security challenges facing Nigeria.
“The committee unanimously reviewed the presentation by the Air Force and rejected the budget as proposed,” he said.
He explained that the proposed allocation was not enough to meet the operational needs of the Air Force, especially at a time when insecurity remains high.
“The budget is inadequate to maintain the level of firepower and air capability needed to fight insurgency and other security threats,” Ngwu added.
Nigeria continues to battle several security challenges, including insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and parts of the North Central, as well as kidnapping and other crimes in many regions.
The Nigerian Air Force plays a major role in providing air support, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance for ground troops.
To address the funding gap, Ngwu said the joint committee has set up a six member panel to engage key stakeholders, including the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and the leadership of the National Assembly.
He said the panel would work on a more realistic and responsive budget proposal, which would later be presented to the committee for approval.
The committee also urged the Federal Government to fully support the process, stressing the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s security system.
Ngwu acknowledged the financial challenges facing the government, noting that about 70 percent of the 2025 capital budget for ministries, departments, and agencies was rolled over into the 2026 budget.
However, he said much of the rolled over funds had still not been released, leaving security agencies underfunded.
He insisted that any allocation eventually approved for the Air Force must be enough to meet its operational duties.
Speaking in the same vein, the committee’s co-chairman, Rt Hon Kabiru Alhassan, said increased and sustained funding for the Air Force is critical to fighting insecurity nationwide.
The rejection of the Air Force budget adds to growing concerns in the National Assembly that poor funding of security agencies could weaken efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.
