President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted the 2026 budget proposal of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to the Senate for consideration and approval, as well as requests for the approval of several key federal appointments.

The communication, read during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, indicated that the proposed budget was prepared in line with statutory provisions guiding the FCTA and aligned with the fiscal and developmental priorities of the Federal Government.

Following its presentation, the Senate referred the proposal to the Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action and scheduling.

In a separate correspondence, also read on the floor, President Tinubu sought accelerated Senate approval for eight nominees for four federal institutions.

Among the nominees is tax policy expert, Taiwo Oyedele, minister of state for finance. The request was subsequently referred to the Committee of the Whole for legislative action.

The Senate President also read additional letters conveying the President’s appointment of Mainasara Ilo, as Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre, for an initial four-year tenure.

Similarly, the President submitted names for confirmation as commissioners of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC. Former Rivers lawmaker, Magnus Abe, was nominated as chairman, alongside Jossy Yaro and Sunday Adebayo as non-executive commissioners. The nomination was referred to the relevance Senate Committees for prompt action.

Meanwhile, plenary was briefly adjourned in honour of the late Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District, in keeping with National Assembly tradition of observing departed members.