The Senate yesterday said Nigerians should not expect the passage of the N49.7 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year before January 31.

President Bola Ahned Tinubu had presented a budget of N49.7 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 18 and asked the lawmakers to expeditiously pass the appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government would commence on January 7. The Senate spokesman also said  the joint committees of the House of Representatives and Senate on Appropriations would present the final report of the budget on January 31.

Yesterday, Senator Adaramodu confirmed that “Joint Committees of Senate and House of Representatives will start meeting with MDAs on January 7. Final report will be laid on 31st January.”