SENATE SETS MARCH 17TH FOR PASSAGE OF ₦58.472 TRILLION 2026 BUDGET

The Senate, through its Committee on Appropriations, has tentatively fixed Tuesday, March 17, 2026, for the final consideration and passage of the ₦58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the committee held on Friday, as part of efforts to meet the proposed timeline for the budget’s passage.

According to the timetable adopted by the committee, budget defence sessions at the committee level will hold from February 2 to February 13, 2026.

To ensure an inclusive and transparent process, the committee has also scheduled a public hearing on the 2026 budget proposal for Monday, February 9, 2026.

The Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), disclosed that a renowned Professor of Economics from the University of Lagos, Wasiu Adeoye, will deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the hearing.

Senator Adeola further revealed that Thursday, March 5, 2026, has been set aside for an interactive session between members of the committee and key economic managers of the Federal Government.

Expected at the session are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among other top officials.

He added that February 16 to February 23, 2026, has been earmarked for the submission of reports on budget defence by various standing committee chairmen, ahead of the presentation of the harmonised report to the Senate on March 17.

The Appropriations Committee Chairman informed members that while the Senate leadership initially preferred the budget to be passed by March 12, 2026, he successfully appealed for an additional one week to allow for more thorough scrutiny.

He also disclosed that hard copies of the 2026 budget estimates have been printed and distributed to chairmen and members of the various standing committees to facilitate detailed examination of the proposals.

The timetable was formally adopted following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North).