The National Assembly is poised to approve Nigeria’s ₦58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill this week, with lawmakers racing to wrap up the legislative process before heading into the Easter holiday.
Insiders familiar with the matter say the Appropriation Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives are ready to table their budget reports during plenary sessions. The timing is critical funding tied to the extended implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, particularly capital projects carried over from those cycles, is due to expire.
Reports indicate the committee findings could be presented as early as Monday, with both chambers expected to consider and vote on the bill independently, either Monday or Tuesday.
Behind the urgency is more than just fiscal responsibility. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having already released its electoral timetable, many lawmakers are keen to clear their legislative slate and pivot to political campaigning and re-election preparations ahead of upcoming elections.
“I am aware that the Appropriations Committee has been working to ensure the report is ready for presentation this week in line with the directive of the Senate President,” one source within the legislature noted.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had previously pressed the Senate Committee on Appropriation to accelerate its work before the chamber adjourned two weeks ago, warning against delays on what he described as a critical national document.
“We must not allow avoidable delays to derail the timely passage of this critical national document,” Akpabio had stated.
Spokespersons for both chambers had not responded to requests for official comment at the time of this report.
