The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, has announced January 31, 2025, as the tentative date for the passage of the ₦49.7tn 2025 budget.

This comes as the committee prepares to commence budget defence sessions on Tuesday.

Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the chairmen of key committees, Olamilekan outlined the framework for the 2025 Budget Defence Session, designed to guide the legislative process leading to the budget’s enactment.

He noted that following the Senate’s resumption of plenary on January 14, 2025, there will be a two-week recess dedicated to continuing the budget defence process seamlessly.

A retreat is also scheduled for Thursday, bringing together ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to provide additional consultation and insights into the budget proposal.

According to the timeline, committees are expected to report back with their findings between January 15 and 18.

This will allow the Appropriation Committee to collate and finalise the documents for consideration.

Highlighting the tight schedule, Olamilekan urged lawmakers to prioritise the budget process over their holidays, stressing the need for prompt and diligent work to ensure the budget is passed within the stipulated timeframe.