The Federal Government is moving to start the 2027 budget process earlier as it seeks to address years of delays and overlapping budget cycles.
As part of the plan, ministries, departments and agencies must submit their 2027 personnel budget proposals by 4pm on September 18, 2026.
The government also plans to send the 2027 budget proposal to the National Assembly in September.
Budget process begins earlier
The deadline was announced in a personnel costs budget call circular issued by the Budget Office of the Federation.
The circular is dated September 4, 2026.
It was signed by Budget Office Director-General Tanimu Yakubu.
The document provides instructions for MDAs preparing their personnel expenditure proposals for 2027.
Both hard and electronic copies must be submitted before the deadline.
Why September matters
The Federal Government wants to change the timing of Nigeria’s budget process.
The 2027 proposal is expected to reach lawmakers about three months before the new fiscal year begins.
This is part of efforts to reduce the overlap between budget years.
Nigeria has faced repeated challenges with delayed budget implementation.
Some budgets have also remained in operation while preparations for the following fiscal year were already underway.
Fiscal framework already completed
The government has taken an important step towards the September target.
The Budget Office said the draft 2027-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper was completed in July.
The document was prepared under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
Completing the framework early is expected to make the budget preparation process faster.
MDAs face stricter verification
There is another major change in the latest budget circular.
Government agencies must now provide their Establishment Acts when submitting budget proposals.
The Budget Office said the requirement would help prevent unestablished agencies from being included in the federal budget.
It warned that an agency’s proposal could be rejected if its establishment law is not submitted.
Rule follows 2026 budget controversy
The new measure comes after controversy over an agency included in the 2026 budget.
The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council received an allocation of about N1.3 billion.
Questions were later raised about whether the agency had a valid legal foundation.
The controversy triggered concerns over the process used to verify government agencies before budget allocations are approved.
The Budget Office now wants MDAs to provide legal documentation before their proposals are considered.
Government also targets unrealistic projections
The Federal Government is also trying to improve the accuracy of its economic projections.
Officials have identified differences in assumptions used by various agencies.
These included crude oil prices, oil production, exchange rates, inflation and non-oil revenue.
Such differences can create large gaps between budget projections and actual results.
Oyedele has said that harmonising the assumptions should help improve budget planning.
Focus shifts to implementation
The early preparation of the 2027 budget is expected to give lawmakers more time to consider the spending plan.
It could also give government agencies more time to begin implementation once the budget is approved.
For now, the immediate task is for MDAs to meet the September 18 deadline.
The government hopes the new approach will produce a more orderly budget cycle and reduce the implementation problems that have affected previous fiscal years.
