Senate Targets March 17 for Passage of N48.472tn 2026 Budget

The Senate has indicated plans to pass the N48.472 trillion 2026 national budget for presidential assent on Tuesday, March 17, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), disclosed this during a special committee meeting held on Friday. He noted that February 2 to 13 has been scheduled for the consideration of the budget estimates at the committee level.

Adeola revealed that the Senate leadership had initially planned to pass the budget on March 12 but granted an additional one week following his appeal.

He added that hard copies of the 2026 budget had been printed for chairmen and members of various standing committees to enable detailed scrutiny and consideration of the estimates.

According to him, a public hearing on the budget proposal has been scheduled for Monday, February 9. He disclosed that Professor of Economics at the University of Lagos, Wasiu Adeoye, will serve as the guest speaker at the session.

Adeola further stated that Thursday, March 5, has been set aside for an interactive session between members of the committee and key economic managers of the Federal Government. Those expected at the session include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; and the Chairman of the National Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, among others.

He added that February 16 to 23 has been fixed for the submission of reports on budget defence by chairmen of various committees ahead of the committee’s presentation of its report to the Senate on March 17.

Members of the committee adopted the timetable following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) before the meeting was adjourned.