The Senate has fixed March 17 for the final consideration and passage of the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 federal budget. The decision was reached on Friday at a special meeting of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Under the approved timetable, budget defence sessions by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will be conducted at the committee level from February 2 to February 13. A public hearing on the budget proposal has been scheduled for February 9 to allow for stakeholder input.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), said Professor Wasiu Adeoye of the University of Lagos will present an economic analysis of the budget at the public hearing.

Adeola also announced that an interactive session between committee members and key federal government economic managers has been fixed for March 5. Expected at the session are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and other senior officials.

He added that reports on budget defence by Senate standing committees are to be submitted between February 16 and February 23. The reports will then be harmonised and presented to the full Senate on March 17.

According to Adeola, Senate leadership had initially proposed March 12 for the budget’s passage but extended the deadline by one week to ensure thorough scrutiny of the estimates.

He further disclosed that printed copies of the 2026 budget have been distributed to chairmen and members of standing committees to aid detailed examination.

The committee adopted the timetable following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North).

President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on December 19. Titled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the proposal, the president said, reflects the administration’s commitment to sustaining macroeconomic stability, boosting competitiveness, and delivering inclusive growth for Nigerians.