Plenary Postponed
Nigeria’s National Assembly of Nigeria has postponed the resumption of plenary from February 24 to March 5, 2026, to allow committees conclude ongoing budget defence sessions related to the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The announcement was made by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, in a statement issued on Monday to senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Reason for the Delay
According to Ogunlana, the adjustment became necessary to give legislative committees more time to complete their engagements with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“This is to inform Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the resumption of plenary session earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 24th February 2026 has been postponed,” the statement read.
Plenary sessions in both chambers will now reconvene on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
2026 Appropriation Bill Under Review
Lawmakers are currently intensifying scrutiny of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
As part of the process, committees are conducting detailed budget defence hearings where heads of MDAs justify proposed expenditures, projected revenues, and spending priorities for the 2026 fiscal year.
These sessions allow legislators to question allocations, evaluate performance benchmarks, and recommend adjustments before the budget returns to plenary for debate and possible passage.
A Step Toward Thorough Review
Legislative leaders described the postponement as a necessary move to ensure thorough examination of the budget before deliberations resume.
While apologising for any inconvenience the change may cause, Assembly officials emphasised that completing the review process is essential to delivering a well-scrutinised and credible national budget.
The shift underscores the Assembly’s current focus on finalising committee findings ahead of full legislative consideration of the 2026 fiscal framework.
About the Author
