The Senate has tentatively fixed March 17, 2026, for the final consideration and passage of the ₦58.47 trillion federal budget, setting the stage for the conclusion of weeks of legislative scrutiny.
The decision was taken on Friday during a special session of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which also unveiled a detailed timetable for the budget review process.
According to the schedule, February 2 to 13 has been earmarked for the consideration of budget estimates by standing committees, while a public hearing will hold on February 9 to allow stakeholders contribute to the process.
Chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, who represents Ogun West, said Prof. Wasiu Adeoye, an economics professor at the University of Lagos, will deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the public hearing.
Adeola also disclosed that March 5 has been fixed for an interactive session between committee members and key economic managers of the federal government. Those expected include Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning.
He further said reports on budget defence by standing committee chairmen would be submitted between February 16 and 23, after which they would be harmonised ahead of presentation to the full Senate on March 17.
Adeola explained that while Senate leadership initially targeted March 12 for passage, lawmakers agreed to extend the deadline by one week to allow for thorough scrutiny.
Hard copies of the 2026 budget, he added, have already been printed and distributed to lawmakers to enable detailed examination.
The timetable was adopted following a motion moved by Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and seconded by Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North).
President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 budget — themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity” — to the National Assembly on December 19.
According to the President, the budget is designed to consolidate macroeconomic stability, deepen competitiveness, and ensure inclusive growth across the country.
