The Senate Committee on Appropriations has unveiled a timetable for the consideration and passage of Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, setting March 17, 2026, as its target date for completion.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, disclosed this during a meeting of the committee, outlining a structured legislative process aimed at ensuring timely passage of the budget.
According to the timetable, public hearings and engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will hold from Monday, February 2 to Friday, February 13, 2026.
During this period, subcommittees are expected to interface with heads of MDAs for budget defence and clarifications.
The committee will then move to the consolidation and harmonisation phase of the various reports from February 21 to March 17, 2026.
Presentation and laying of the final report before the Senate is expected between March 17 and March 19, 2026.
Senator Olamilekan stressed the need for urgency and discipline among committee members, urging them to adhere strictly to the timetable despite indications that the leadership of the Senate is pushing for an earlier passage date of March 12.
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As part of efforts to ensure an inclusive process, the committee also scheduled Monday, February 9, 2026, for a public hearing on the budget proposal.
According to the Chairman senate Committee on Appropriations Senator Solomon Olamilekan a Professor of Economics at the University of Lagos, Wasiu Adeoye, will deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the hearing.
A proposal by Senator Olamilekan was adopted by the committee, proposing Thursday, March 5, 2026, for an interactive session between committee members and key economic managers of the Federal Government.
Those expected include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among others.
Senator Adeola also disclosed that February 16 to 23, 2026, has been earmarked for the submission of reports on budget defence by chairmen of the various Senate committees, ahead of the presentation of the Appropriations Committee’s report to the Senate on March 17.
He noted that while the Senate leadership initially proposed that the budget be passed by March 12, 2026, he secured an additional week to allow for more thorough scrutiny.
To aid detailed examination of the estimates, the Chairman added that hard copies of the 2026 budget have been printed and distributed to chairmen and members of the standing committees.
The timetable was subsequently adopted by the committee following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
