Defend Your Budget or Forfeit Allocation, Senate Warns MDAs

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The Nigerian Senate has warned federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stating that any agency failing to appear before its committees to justify its spending proposals will face a total forfeiture of its 2026 budgetary allocation.

This directive aims to curb the recurring culture of non-compliance and ensures that every naira requested is backed by a verifiable and justifiable plan.

During the ongoing budget defense sessions for the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, lawmakers expressed frustration over the nonchalant attitude of certain heads of agencies.

The Senate emphasized that the era of “automatic approvals” is over, especially as the nation shifts toward a tax-driven economy where citizens demand higher levels of transparency and accountability for their contributions.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations highlighted that several agencies had ignored previous invitations, stalling the legislative process.

By threatening to withhold funds, the upper chamber seeks to enforce discipline and ensure that the March 17 deadline for the final passage of the budget is met without further delays caused by administrative bottlenecks.

In addition to attendance, the Senate is scrutinizing the performance of the 2025 budget. Lawmakers insisted that no new projects or funds would be approved for agencies that have failed to account for previous disbursements.

This rigorous approach is intended to prevent budget padding and ensure that the government’s limited resources are directed toward critical infrastructure and social welfare.

The warning also extends to revenue-generating agencies that have been accused of under-remitting funds to the Federation Account.

The Senate resolved that agencies with discrepancies in their financial records or those that shun oversight hearings will have their capital and overhead budgets suspended until they provide satisfactory explanations to the relevant sub-committees.

This decisive action reflects a broader legislative effort to restore the January-to-December budget cycle and improve fiscal governance. The Senate maintained that public office holders must respect the constitutional authority of the National Assembly to oversee the distribution of national wealth, warning that “no agency is above the law.”

Reiterating the legislature’s commitment to strict oversight, the Senate spokesperson stated, “Any MDA that fails to appear before the relevant committee to defend its budget proposal will have its allocation for the 2026 fiscal year withheld.

We will not allow the negligence of any government official to hold the entire nation to ransom or derail our commitment to timely budget delivery.”