NEWS
Rep. Alex Ikwechegh Hails President Bola Tinubu as ‘Listening President’ Over Move to Fast-Track ₦68.32tn 2026 Budget
The Member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh fondly known and referred to as “Onyeocha N’Aba”, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “responsive leadership” following the Federal Government’s decision to accelerate the implementation of the 2026 budget.
Ikwechegh, who spoke during an interview on Magic FM, Aba, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, said the renewed efforts by the Federal Government to speed up the release of funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, showed that President Tinubu was willing to listen to concerns raised by the legislature in the interest of the Nigerian people.
The lawmaker praised the President for what he described as a constructive response to concerns over delays in budget implementation, stressing that the intervention demonstrated a healthy working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.
“Mr. President has shown he is a listening President who has the interest of the nation at heart.
“He did not see our concerns as opposition. He saw them as part of our job to ensure Nigerians get value for money,“ Rem Ikwechegh stated.
Ikwechegh had earlier attracted national attention after raising a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives over delays in the release of funds despite appropriations having been passed by the National Assembly.
The motion sparked significant debate among lawmakers, with concerns raised about the slow pace of capital project execution and the possible impact of delayed funding on infrastructure development, public services and other projects expected to directly benefit Nigerians.
The intervention also brought renewed attention to the critical importance of timely budget implementation, particularly at a time when citizens across the country are expecting government programmes and capital projects to translate into visible improvements in their communities.
Following the concerns raised in the National Assembly, the Federal Government announced measures aimed at fast-tracking releases under the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The 2026 budget provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion, with ₦32.2 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure, making the effective and timely release of funds crucial to the execution of projects and programmes across the country.
According to the Abia lawmaker, the development represents an important example of how legislative oversight should function in a democracy not merely as criticism of the executive, but as a mechanism for identifying problems, demanding accountability and ensuring corrective action where necessary.
“Our job is to speak firmly when policies are not working, and to also acknowledge when government takes corrective action.
“That is how the executive and legislature serve the people together,“ he said.
Ikwechegh stressed that while budget figures and policy announcements are important, the ultimate measure of success would be the extent to which Nigerians experience tangible improvements in their daily lives.
He said the true test of the 2026 budget would not be found only in documents, allocations or official announcements, but in the actual delivery of projects and services to communities across the country.
The lawmaker identified completed roads, functional hospitals, employment opportunities for young people and improved public services across constituencies as some of the visible outcomes Nigerians should expect from effective budget implementation.
He expressed optimism that improved coordination and communication between the National Assembly and the Presidency would strengthen the implementation process and ensure that the objectives of the 2026 Appropriation Act are achieved.
As implementation gathers momentum, Ikwechegh said Nigerians would increasingly begin to feel the impact of the ₦68.32 trillion budget, particularly if the renewed commitment to timely fund releases is sustained and translated into concrete projects and improved services.
The Aba North/Aba South federal lawmaker maintained that both arms of government have a shared responsibility to ensure that public funds are effectively deployed and that Nigerians receive the value for money promised through the annual budget.