Senate Warns MDAs of Fund Reallocation Over Poor 2026 Budget Defence
The Nigerian Senate has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that failure to adequately defend their 2026 budget proposals could lead to the reallocation of their funds to priority sectors.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during the ongoing budget defence sessions at the National Assembly, as lawmakers expressed concern over poor preparation and weak justifications by some MDAs.
According to the Senate, agencies that appear before committees without clear performance records, detailed project breakdowns or alignment with national development priorities risk losing part or all of their proposed allocations.
Senate leaders stressed that the 2026 budget process would be driven by accountability, value for money and measurable impact, noting that scarce resources must be redirected to sectors with clear national importance, including security, infrastructure, education, healthcare and social welfare.
Lawmakers also cautioned heads of MDAs against sending junior officials to defend budgets, insisting that chief executives must personally appear with comprehensive data and implementation plans.
The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the 2026 Appropriation Act reflects the country’s economic realities and delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians, warning that budget padding, vague proposals and unimplemented projects would no longer be tolerated.
Budget defence hearings are expected to continue across various Senate committees in the coming days.
Senate Warns MDAs of Fund Reallocation Over Poor 2026 Budget Defence