Nigerian senators on Friday received $50,000, while their counterparts at the House of Representatives collected $30,000 in bribes, for stalling a planned protest to halt the passing of the 2026 budget and disgrace President Bola Tinubu due to longstanding grievances over funding for constituency projects, citing discriminatory treatment between the National Assembly leadership and members, Peoples Gazette can confirm.

The funds were distributed through the leaders of caucuses from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Gazette had earlier reported that Nigerian lawmakers had threatened to disrupt proceedings and stall the budget presentation, mainly due to what they tagged as Mr Tinubu’s government’s failure to adequately implement the 2025 budget. However, the protest was abruptly abandoned shortly before Mr Tinubu arrived at the parliament.

The Gazette learnt that lawmakers made the decision during a chaotic meeting between legislators, finance minister Wale Edun, and budget minister Abubakar Bagudu at the National Assembly, where members led by Ahmed Wase clashed with the leadership of the two chambers over unfair payment plans. Federal Inland Revenue Service chairman Zacch Adedeji was also present at the meeting.

Lawmakers present at the meeting last week, Tuesday, told The Gazette that the situation began when the Tinubu government agreed to release N850 billion for constituency project payments to legislators under mounting pressure.

However, things escalated immediately after the appropriation committees for both the Senate and the House of Representatives decided that ordinary members would receive only 30 per cent of the funds for their projects, while leaders of both chambers would have full access to their shares.

Meanwhile, sources told The Gazette on Friday that the leadership of the bicameral legislature received calls from the presidency few hours before the commencement of proceedings for the budget presentation by Mr Tinubu, urging them to plead with the aggrieved lawmakers, with a promise of financial inducement.

Mr Tinubu, who arrived at the National Assembly Complex at about 3:00 p.m. on Friday, presented a proposed N54.46 trillion budget (appropriation bill) for the 2026 fiscal year before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The president was in the company of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume, ministers, and some governors, among others.

Five members of the House of Representatives confirmed to The Gazette that each of their colleagues received $30,000 minutes after Mr Tinubu concluded the presentation of the 2026 budget. Four senators who spoke with this newspaper also confirmed the development, noting that they and their colleagues received $50,000 each for canceling the planned protest.

Two senators, however, said they received less than $50,000, while two House of Representatives members denied receiving the money. However, an aide to the House of Representatives members who denied it confirmed that his boss received the $30,000.

A spokesperson for the Senate denied knowledge of the bribery when contacted by The Gazette

According to the lawmakers, no one received money until the president was done presenting the budget. But they started receiving the money in cash immediately after Mr Tinubu had finished presenting the budget.

“They said the money was a Christmas gift from the president to the honourables,” a lawmaker told The Gazette on Friday evening. “Christmas is the season to collect gifts, even from the president.”

Even though the money was collected to buy the lawmaker’s silence over alleged mismanagement of federal appropriations, the lawmakers dismissed ethical or legal consequences when asked by The Gazette about collecting large sums in cash, even though the transaction could carry criminal penalties under Nigerian laws against bribery and abuse of public trust.

The lawmakers who confirmed receiving the funds did so under anonymity to avoid being censured by the larger plenary. Two lawmakers separately shared multimedia material with The Gazette showing how $30,000 for Reps and $50,000 for senators in cash packaged for members of both legislative chambers.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.