National Assembly Shifts Plenary Resumption to March 5 Over Ongoing Budget Defence Sessions

The National Assembly has postponed the resumption of plenary from February 24 to March 5, 2026, to allow committees to conclude ongoing budget defence sessions for ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and government parastatals. In a notice issued Monday, Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana stated:

“This postponement is to enable Committees of the Assembly to conclude ongoing budget defence sessions.” Both chambers had earlier adjourned for two weeks to conduct the 2026 budget defences. Plenary will now reconvene in both chambers on Thursday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m. The leadership apologised for any inconvenience caused. The extension reflects the volume of work required to scrutinise the 2026 budget proposals.

Key Points:

The postponement ensures thorough legislative oversight of budget proposals.
It reflects the complexity and scale of scrutinising MDA submissions.
Lawmakers gain more time, while MDAs face extended scrutiny.
This signals the importance of budget defence in legislative process.
The timing, with March 5 new date, provides clear expectation.

National Assembly postpones resumption to March 5 as committees continue 2026 budget defence for MDAs and government parastatals.

Sources: TheCable, National Assembly