FG Misses September Target As 2027 Budget Slips To December

President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly before the end of December.

That is about three months later than the federal government’s own plan, and it leaves lawmakers little time before election season.

Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite said the government is working on the budget and intends to present it before year-end.

She spoke to State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting.

She however did not give the proposed size of the budget or a presentation date.

How the timeline has moved

July 2026: The Budget Office said the draft 2027-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper was concluded, to allow submission of the 2027 budget to the National Assembly by September.

September 4: The Budget Office issued a circular setting September 18 as the deadline for MDAs to submit 2027 personnel-cost proposals.

End of September: The executive had said it would send the proposal by the end of September. The apparent failure to do so has raised concerns about the bill’s fate.

October 28: The December timeline was announced at the FEC briefing. The Council also approved the National Development Plan 2026-2030.

January 16, 2027: Under the INEC timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections begin on this date.

Why it matters

A December presentation would follow the pattern of the last two budgets.

The N58.18 trillion 2026 budget was laid before a joint session on a Friday in December 2025. The N47.90 trillion 2025 budget was presented in December 2024.

This year the National Assembly will have to scrutinise the bill while campaigns are starting.

Analysts have also warned that government should explain how much of the 2025 and 2026 budgets was released, spent and left outstanding before new appropriations are made.