The Senate has stepped up scrutiny of President Bola Tinubu’s ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, unveiling a comprehensive review timetable that includes a high-level interface with Nigeria’s economic managers and a projected passage date of March 17, 2026.
The resolution was reached on Friday at a special meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, where lawmakers adopted a detailed programme outlining budget defence sessions, a public hearing and final legislative action on the spending proposal.
The move follows an earlier announcement by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, that consideration of the 2026 budget would take centre stage when plenary resumes, alongside deliberations on proposed amendments to the country’s electoral laws.
Under the approved schedule, Senate standing committees will conduct budget defence sessions with ministries, departments and agencies between February 2 and February 13, 2026. This will be followed by a public hearing slated for Monday, February 9, aimed at broadening stakeholder participation in the appropriation process.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), said the public hearing will feature a technical presentation by a University of Lagos economics professor, Wasiu Adeoye, to provide lawmakers with expert insight as they assess the budget framework.
A major highlight of the review process is an interactive session scheduled for March 5, 2026, when key members of the Federal Government’s economic team are expected to appear before the committee. Those listed include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
Senator Adeola said reports from the various budget defence sessions would be submitted between February 16 and February 23, paving the way for the Appropriations Committee’s final report to the Senate.
He disclosed that although Senate leadership initially proposed March 12, 2026, for the passage of the budget, lawmakers approved an extension of one week to allow for deeper examination of the estimates.
To support the review process, hard copies of the 2026 Appropriation Bill have been printed and distributed to all senators and chairpersons of standing committees.
The timetable was formally adopted following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), setting the stage for what lawmakers describe as a more rigorous and transparent budget review process.
