2027 Budget: FG Gives MDAs September 18 Deadline

The Federal Government has given ministries, departments and agencies until 4 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, to submit their personnel cost proposals for the 2027 budget.

The directive is contained in the 2027 Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular issued by the Budget Office of the Federation and signed by its Director-General, Tanimu Yakubu.

Under the directive, MDAs are required to submit both hard and electronic copies of their personnel budget proposals, alongside other relevant information, within the stipulated deadline.

The Federal Government plans to submit the 2027 budget proposal to the National Assembly in September as part of efforts to return the country to a more predictable budget cycle.

The Budget Office said the draft 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper had already been concluded in July to facilitate the early presentation of the budget.

The government has faced persistent challenges with budget preparation and implementation, including overlapping fiscal years and delays in the passage and execution of annual budgets.

The new budget process also introduces stricter requirements for government agencies following controversies surrounding the inclusion of an allegedly non-existent agency in the 2026 budget.

Consequently, MDAs have been directed to submit copies of the laws establishing them alongside their 2027 budget proposals.

The Budget Office warned that failure to provide the relevant Establishment Act could lead to the rejection of an agency’s budget proposal.

The directive is intended to strengthen verification and prevent unestablished or improperly constituted agencies from being included in the Federal Government’s spending plan.

The government has also directed MDAs not to make provisions for promotions expected to take effect during 2027. Only promotions already approved and effective are to be reflected in the personnel budget.

Funding for promotions that become effective during 2027 will instead be provided centrally under the Payment for Promotion and Salary Arrears in the Service-Wide Vote.

MDAs are further required to submit their third-quarter personnel budget performance review reports by September 30, 2026.

The Budget Office also instructed ministries and agencies to make appropriate provisions for nutrition-related projects and Early Childhood Development programmes.

Ministers, heads of agencies and accounting officers are required to certify the accuracy of the information contained in their submissions.

The September 18 deadline is expected to enable the Federal Government to consolidate the submissions and advance preparations for presenting the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.