The Senate has approved a N68.3 trillion federal budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The passage came after lawmakers adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriations during a plenary session on Tuesday. Chairman of the committee, Solomon Olamilekan, representing Ogun West under the APC, presented the report that paved the way for the bill's adoption. The legislative step marks a critical stage in the annual budget process, setting the stage for further review and concurrence by the House of Representatives. The budget now moves to a joint session of the National Assembly for harmonisation before onward transmission to the president for assent.
When the Senate passes a budget of N68.3 trillion with no detailed breakdown or public debate, it signals routine acceptance of executive fiscal scale without scrutiny. The speed of approval, led by Solomon Olamilekan, suggests lawmakers are treating the budget more as a procedural obligation than a tool for economic direction. At a time of currency pressure and rising debt servicing, such a figure demands more than silent consensus—it demands accountability. Without transparency on allocation, the real impact will be felt not in policy gains, but in widening fiscal gaps.
