The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that the upper legislative chamber will pass the ₦48.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill on March 31.
This timeline was established just before the Senate adjourned for a brief Sallah recess, with Akpabio emphasizing that the break would not stall the budget process.
The Senate President noted that Standing committees are mandated to continue their work throughout the holiday, specifically focusing on budget defenses and essential coordination with the Committee on Appropriations to ensure a seamless transition into the final approval stage upon resumption.
During the plenary, Akpabio urged the Senate Leadership to maintain pressure on the Appropriations Committee to harmonize all departmental reports by the end of the month.
The goal is to avoid the need for further lengthy concurrences or additional harmonization between the two chambers.
The Senate President noted that the House of Representatives has also aligned its schedule to meet on March 31, allowing both arms of the National Assembly to pass the national budget in tandem. This synchronized effort is intended to maintain the January-to-December budget cycle and accelerate the implementation of key national projects.