Federal Government Moves to Single Budget Cycle by March 2026

The Federal Government is set to move away from the current system of overlapping appropriations, transitioning to a single, unified budget starting March 31, 2026.

This was disclosed on Friday by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, during an interview in Abuja.

He explained that the recent repeal and re-enactment of the national budgets are strategic steps toward ensuring a more coherent and predictable funding structure for the country.

According to Agbese, the primary objective of this shift is to align Nigeria’s fiscal management with international best practices.

By streamlining the process into a single funding system, the government aims to enhance transparency, improve accountability, and reduce the administrative burden associated with oversight during budget implementation. He noted that once the transition is complete, the executive branch will be better positioned to manage cash flow and ensure the timely release of funds for critical projects.

The move comes as a response to the significant challenges Nigeria has faced in executing the 2024 and 2025 budgets, which often resulted in multiple appropriation acts running concurrently within a single fiscal year.

To address this, the National Assembly recently acted on President Bola Tinubu’s request to repeal and re-enact both budgets. This legislative action included extending the implementation timeline for the 2025 budget through March 2026 to create a “clean slate” for the new cycle.

Agbese commended President Tinubu for his commitment to budget discipline and economic stability.

He reiterated the Parliament’s dedication to legislative reforms designed to strengthen public finance management and restore public confidence in the national budgeting process.

This transition is expected to provide a more stable environment for public expenditure and service delivery across the federation.