The National Assembly of Nigeria has postponed the resumption of plenary from Tuesday, February 24, to March 5, 2026, to allow lawmakers conclude ongoing budget defence sessions.
The decision was conveyed in a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
“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.
It explained that the extension would enable various committees to wrap up intensive budget defence engagements. Plenary sessions in both chambers will now reconvene on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The leadership expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the adjustment.
The last plenary session was held on February 17 and was described by the leadership as a special sitting for “crucial deliberations.” The House of Representatives had earlier held its seventh sitting of the 24th legislative session on February 12 as part of its calendar.
The postponement comes at a critical period of fiscal scrutiny, as lawmakers intensify examination of the Federal Government’s budget performance and projections.
Last Thursday, the Senate of Nigeria grilled members of the government’s economic team over what it described as weak implementation of the 2025 budget.
Senators also raised concerns about the feasibility of the proposed ₦58.7 trillion 2026 budget, signalling the possibility of a downward review.
During the budget defence session, lawmakers cited complaints of unpaid contractors, inadequate capital releases, issues surrounding a centralised payment system, and the country’s rising public debt profile.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, fielded questions from senators, while Chairman of the National Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, acknowledged that past budgets had relied on overly optimistic assumptions and called for more realistic revenue projections.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, also questioned whether the executive possessed sufficient confidence in delivering the ambitious 2026 proposal.
In response, the Finance Ministry disclosed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies had been directed to submit cash plans covering outstanding obligations. It assured lawmakers that payments under the 2025 budget would commence immediately or within days.
The committee subsequently proceeded into a closed-door session, as legislative scrutiny of the nation’s fiscal outlook intensifies ahead of plenary resumption in March.
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