The Senate Committee on Appropriations has officially released a comprehensive legislative timetable for the consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, headlined by a high-stakes interactive session with the federal government’s top economic managers on March 5, 2026.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, alongside the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, are scheduled to appear before the panel to defend the ₦58.47 trillion budget proposal recently presented by President Bola Tinubu.
During a special session held on Friday, the Committee, chaired by Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), adopted a rigorous schedule aimed at ensuring transparency and meticulous scrutiny.
Key milestones in the approved timetable include:
February 2 – 13: Standing Committees to conduct primary budget defense sessions.
February 9: A National Public Hearing to incorporate stakeholder and citizen input.
February 16 – 23: Submission of reports from Standing Committees to the Appropriations panel.
March 5: Key appearance by the Federal Economic Team.
March 17: Tentative date for final consideration and passage of the budget.
To bolster the quality of legislative deliberations, Senator Adeola revealed that the February 9 public hearing will feature a technical PowerPoint presentation by Professor Wasiu Adeoye, an economics expert from the University of Lagos. This move is designed to provide lawmakers with independent data and professional insights into the budget’s macroeconomic implications.
“The Senate is committed to a thorough examination of these estimates,” Senator Adeola stated. “While leadership initially proposed March 12 for passage, we have secured an additional week to ensure no stone is left unturned in our oversight duties.”
The Senate’s intensified focus on the ₦58.47 trillion bill aligns with recent statements by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who noted that budget scrutiny and electoral law amendments would dominate the assembly’s current agenda.
To facilitate this process, hard copies of the 2026 budget have already been distributed to all committee members. The formal adoption of this schedule followed a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
