Senate Sets March 17 Deadline To Pass 2026 Budget

The Senate has adjusted its legislative calendar, tentatively fixing March 17 for the final passage of the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 federal budget.

This resolution emerged from a special meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations held on Friday, January 30.

Under the approved timetable, the scrutiny of budget estimates by Senate committees will run from February 2 to February 13.

To broaden stakeholder input, a public hearing on the budget proposal has also been scheduled for February 9.

Chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, who represents Ogun West, disclosed that Wasiu Adeoye, a professor of economics at the University of Lagos, will deliver a PowerPoint presentation during the public hearing.

Adeola further revealed that an interactive session between committee members and key economic officials of the Federal Government will take place on March 5.

He said the engagement will include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, among others.

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According to Adeola, chairmen of standing committees are expected to submit their reports on budget defence between February 16 and February 23.

He explained that the submissions will be harmonised ahead of their presentation to the Senate on March 17.

Adeola noted that Senate leadership initially proposed March 12 for the budget’s passage but later agreed to extend the deadline by one week to allow for more detailed consideration.

He also confirmed that printed copies of the 2026 budget have been distributed to senators and committee chairmen to support thorough scrutiny.

The committee adopted the timetable following a motion moved by Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi Central, and seconded by Orji Uzor Kalu, senator representing Abia North.

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’.

The president said the 2026 budget reflects the administration’s determination to lock in macroeconomic stability, deepen competitiveness, and ensure growth benefits all Nigerians.