Barring any last-minute changes, the National Assembly is expected to pass the N58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriations Bill this week. Funding of the extended 2024 and 2025 appropriation acts capital implementation rolled over, will terminate today.
The extension of the implementation was approved by both chambers in December.
Sources told The Nation yesterday that the report on the 2026 Appropriation Bill will be laid by the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives today, the date members are to reconvene after a short break.
The sources said the budget report would be considered by the two chambers separately and passed during plenary or tomorrow, before the end of the week, before lawmakers would adjourn for Easter break.
One of the sources said lawmakers are eager to okay the budget to give them the time to concentrate on their re-election consultations and campaigns in view of the electoral timetable published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate had, shortly before adjourning plenary two weeks ago, shifted its resumption to today, thereby slowing down legislative work on the budget, which was initially planned to be finalised shortly after the break.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had, before the adjournment, urged the Senate Committee on Appropriation to ensure that its report on the budget was concluded in time for consideration and passage upon resumption.
