By Abdullateef Bambgose
Concerns are mounting over a possible delay in the passage of Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, following repeated cancellations of key budget meetings by critical Senate committees.
Investigations reveal that the Senate Committee on Appropriation, chaired by Adeola Olamilekan Solomon, twice in February failed to hold scheduled sessions to consider the budget, reportedly due to the chairman’s political engagements outside Abuja.
The committee, regarded as the engine room of the National Assembly’s budget process, is responsible for scrutinising the President’s proposal, coordinating inputs from other committees, and presenting the final report for passage.
A member of the committee disclosed that the chairman has delegated much of his legislative duties to his deputy while attending political functions in Ogun State, fuelling speculation about his governorship ambition.
A similar disruption has been recorded in the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and Blue Economy, led by Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni.
The committee, for the second time, failed to hold its budget defence session scheduled for March 24, 2026, despite prior notice to stakeholders and the Senate Press Corps. The venue for the meeting at Room 117 of the Senate New Building remained locked throughout the day, with no official explanation for the cancellation.
This development comes as the Senate had fixed March 30 as the deadline for all committees to conclude budget defence and submit their reports, raising concerns that the timeline may no longer be feasible.
Both committees are chaired by allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prompting concerns among observers about the impact of political engagements on legislative responsibilities.
Analysts warn that continued delays and lack of proper scrutiny could weaken the integrity of the budget process, affect fiscal planning, and slow down economic implementation.
With just days to the deadline, attention is now on the Senate leadership to restore momentum and ensure timely passage of the budget.
