The National Assembly is in a high-pressure race to finalize the ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill.
​While the Senate and the House of Representatives operate as a joint force on the national budget, they are currently balancing a strict legislative calendar with a short break for the Sallah festivities.
​Initially, the Senate had set a target of March 17 for the final passage. however, Senate President Godswill Akpabio recently updated this timeline. The new firm deadline for passage in both chambers is March 31, 2026.
President Tinubu’s administration is pushing to end the era of “overlapping budgets” (where multiple years’ budgets run simultaneously). By passing this by March 31, the government aims to start a clean, single revenue cycle on April 1, 2026.
​The House, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, has been working in sync with the Senate to ensure a unified document.
The House recently adjourned plenary to allow its standing committees to wrap up the “Budget Defense” sessions. This is where Ministries (MDAs) defend their specific allocations.
The House is expected to reconvene on March 31 to vote on the final report, ensuring the version they pass matches the Senate’s version to avoid lengthy reconciliation delays.
