The Senate has scheduled March 17, 2026, as the date for the final review and approval of the N58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, after rolling out a fast-tracked plan to complete work on the budget proposal.
The decision was reached during a special meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, where lawmakers also mapped out February 2 to 13 for detailed examination of the budget estimates by various committees.
To promote public participation, the panel fixed February 9, 2026, for an open public hearing on the proposed budget.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), stated that Professor Wasiu Adeoye, an economist from the University of Lagos, is expected to deliver a PowerPoint presentation during the session.
The committee also reserved March 5, 2026, for a consultative meeting with top federal economic officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
According to Adeola, standing committees are expected to submit their reports on budget defence between February 16 and 23, ahead of the Appropriations Committee’s final report presentation to the Senate on March 17.
He added that although Senate leaders earlier targeted March 12 for passage of the budget, he requested and obtained an extra week to allow more thorough analysis of the figures.
To support the review process, printed copies of the 2026 budget proposal have been distributed to committee chairmen and members.
The timetable was formally approved after a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
