Senate Targets March 17 for Passage of ₦48.472trn 2026 Budget

The Senate has fixed Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as the tentative date for the final consideration and passage of the ₦48.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The timeline was agreed on Friday during a special session of the Senate Committee on Appropriations at the National Assembly, as part of efforts to ensure a timely and orderly budget process.

To meet the proposed deadline, the committee scheduled the consideration of budget estimates by various Senate standing committees between February 2 and February 13, 2026. In line with its commitment to inclusiveness, a public hearing on the 2026 budget proposal has been slated for Monday, February 9, 2026.

Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, disclosed that a professor of Economics at the University of Lagos, Wasiu Adeoye, will deliver a PowerPoint presentation during the public hearing to provide expert insights into the budget framework. Adeola further announced that an interactive session between members of the Appropriations Committee and key economic managers of the Federal Government has been scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026. Expected at the session are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among others.

According to the approved timetable, reports on budget defence by the various standing committees are to be submitted between February 16 and February 23, 2026. These reports will be harmonised into the Appropriations Committee’s final report, which is expected to be presented to the Senate on March 17.

Senator Adeola revealed that Senate leadership had initially proposed March 12, 2026, for the passage of the budget, but an additional week was secured to allow for more detailed scrutiny of the estimates.

He also noted that hard copies of the 2026 budget estimates have been printed and distributed to chairmen and members of the standing committees to facilitate comprehensive examination.

The committee subsequently adopted the timetable following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.