The Senate, through its Committee on Appropriations, has provisionally scheduled March 17 for the final debate and approval of Nigeria’s N58.47 trillion 2026 federal budget.
The timeline was agreed during a special meeting of the committee on Friday.
According to the schedule, committees of the Senate will review budget estimates between February 2 and 13, while a public hearing on the proposal is slated for February 9 to broaden stakeholder participation.
Chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, said Professor Wasiu Adeoye of the University of Lagos will deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the public hearing.
He also disclosed that March 5 has been earmarked for an interactive session with key economic officials of the federal government, including Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and national planning.
Adeola said standing committees are expected to submit their budget defence reports between February 16 and 23, after which the documents will be harmonised ahead of presentation to the Senate on March 17.
He added that although Senate leadership initially targeted March 12 for passage of the budget, lawmakers agreed to extend the deadline by one week.
Adeola further noted that hard copies of the 2026 budget have already been circulated among committee chairmen and members to enable thorough examination.
The timetable was adopted following a motion moved by Adamu Aliero and seconded by Orji Uzor Kalu.
President Bola Tinubu had presented the 2026 appropriation bill to the National Assembly on December 19, describing it as the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
According to the president, the proposal is aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability, boosting competitiveness, and ensuring that economic growth benefits all Nigerians.
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