**NASS Shelves Plenary Again, Giving Bureaucrats More Time to Get their Budget Acts Together** The National Assembly has put on hold its plenary sessions once more, this time to enable the various standing committees to wrap up the 2026 budget defence with government agencies. The decision was communicated to lawmakers in a circular issued by the Acting Clerk to the House, Ibrahim Sidi, on February 23, 2026. With the 2026 budget defence still very much in progress, the leadership of the National Assembly has deemed it wise to postpone the plenary sitting to allow committees to complete this crucial exercise. This move will provide more time for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to present their budget proposals to the relevant committees. The delay will also enable lawmakers to scrutinize these proposals more thoroughly, ensuring that they are well-informed before making any decisions. The initial plan to resume plenary on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, has been abandoned in favour of a new date: Thursday, March 5, 2026. Lawmakers are being asked to make the most of this additional time to engage in robust discussions on the budget defence, ultimately leading to better-informed decisions that benefit the country. This postponement raises questions about the timing and efficiency of the budgeting process in Nigeria. Critics would argue that the delay is a reflection of the country's bureaucratic nature, where officials often take time to get their acts together. However, supporters would counter that this additional time is necessary to ensure that the budget is comprehensive and well-considered, ultimately benefiting the nation in the long run. As the National Assembly continues to navigate the complex process of budgeting, Nigerians can only hope that the end result is a budget that addresses pressing national issues and promotes sustainable development.