Senate targets March 31 for passage of 2026 budget

GODSWILL Akpabio has said the Senate plans to pass the 2026 appropriation bill on March 31. Mr Akpabio made the disclosure during plenary on Thursday shortly before the upper legislative chamber adjourned for the Sallah break.

According to him, Senate committees will continue their work during the recess, especially the ongoing budget defence sessions and coordination with the appropriations committee. The Senate president urged the chamber’s leadership to ensure the appropriations committee harmonises its report before lawmakers reconvene.

“I hope the leader will put pressure on the committee on appropriations to harmonise the report of the 2026 appropriation bill by that date,” he said.

“This is so that when we resume, we can try our best to pass the budget without requiring further concurrence or harmonisation.”

Akpabio also stressed the need for cooperation among the Senate leadership to ensure the budget process is completed within the proposed timeline. “Leadership must work together to ensure everything Senate 2026 budget passage is in order,” he said.

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He added that the House of Representatives had already adjourned to conclude its own budget processes and was also expected to reconvene on March 31.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations had earlier set March 17 as the date for the final consideration and passage of the N58.47 trillion 2026 appropriation bill. To keep the process on track, the committee scheduled budget defence sessions by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) between February 2 and February 13.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the N58.47 trillion 2026 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly in December. Tinubu said the spending plan prioritises economic stability, infrastructure development, security, and social investment.

The Senate has already advanced the appropriation bill through its first and second readings.