BARRING any last minute changes,the  Nigerian Senate is set to pass the 2024 budget today, Saturday, December 30, to maintain the January to December budget cycle policy of the Federal Government.

The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly is expected to commence plenary by 1.00 p.m. to pass the budget.

If eventually passed today by the Senate, the appropriation bill will require the endorsement of the President to become law, The ICIR can report.

President Bola Tinubu presented the N27.5 trillion 2024 proposed appropriation bill themed ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’ to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 29.

Nigeria returned to the January-December budget cycle after former President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, December 17, 20219, signed the N10.59 trillion 2020 Appropriation Bill into law.

The Senate had on Wednesday, December 21 2023, adjourned plenary till Friday, December 29, to consider the passage of the 2024 budget. The Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, in a statement,however, noted that the date has been shifted to Saturday, December 30, 2023.

In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday morning, Akabueze said the plenary will now be held from 1:00 p.m.

In the statement titled, ‘Plenary sitting to commence at 1 p.m. prompt,’ Akubueze said, “This is to kindly inform Distinguished Senators that the plenary sitting of the Senate, scheduled for Saturday, December 30, 2023, will hold by 1p. m prompt.”