By Muhammad Mamman
The Nigerian Senate has vowed to conduct rigorous scrutiny of service-wide votes, warning that no extension of the 2026 budget beyond December will be entertained.
Senate leadership emphasised that all government spending must adhere strictly to the approved allocations, signalling a tough stance on potential budget overruns. Lawmakers stressed the importance of transparency and accountability, noting that any attempt to bypass the legislative process for extra funding would face strong opposition.
“The Senate is committed to ensuring that every naira in the 2026 budget is spent according to plan. There will be no automatic extensions,” a senior Senate official told reporters on Monday.
This statement comes amid rising concerns over delayed budget approvals and the tendency for some ministries and agencies to seek additional funds outside the approved fiscal framework. Analysts say the Senate’s move could tighten fiscal discipline and curb unauthorised expenditure.
