The National Assembly of Benin will convene for its second ordinary session of 2026 on 21 October at 10:00 AM. Lawmakers are scheduled to gather at the legislative building in Porto-Novo to begin the proceedings. President of the National Assembly Gildas Amoussou issued a formal call to the members regarding the assembly's return. He "invite les députés à prendre part à la cérémonie solennelle d’ouverture" to ensure a quorum for the start of the session. The meeting follows the established parliamentary calendar for the country. Deputies are expected to address the legislative agenda as mandated by the assembly's current operational requirements. This second ordinary session of the National Assembly of Benin for 2026 will open on October 21 at 10:00 AM, marking a significant milestone in the legislative calendar for the year.
Ceremonial Protocols for Deputies
Legislators will assemble at the Palais des Gouverneurs in Porto-Novo for the official opening ceremony. The opening ceremony will take place at the Palais des Gouverneurs in Porto-Novo, providing a formal setting for the commencement of legislative duties. The Secrétariat général administratif issued a directive regarding the dress code for the event, stating: "Les députés sont priés d’arborer leurs attributs pour la circonstance." This requirement serves to maintain the formal standards expected during the inaugural proceedings of the second ordinary session. The gathering represents a mandatory assembly of the elected representatives of the nation, who must adhere to the protocols established by the parliamentary leadership to ensure the orderly conduct of the session.
Following the opening ceremony, the assembly will begin its review of the national budget for the upcoming year. The Council of Ministers formally transmitted the project for the 2027 finance law to the National Assembly on 7 October. The project for the 2027 finance law was transmitted by the Council of Ministers on October 7. This legislative proposal serves as the primary fiscal instrument for the government's operations in the next calendar year.
Financial data included in the proposal set the total 2027 national budget at 4,757.029 billion FCFA. The proposed 2027 national budget is 4,757.029 billion FCFA, representing a 14.7% increase compared to the previous year. This figure marks a 14.7% increase compared to the budget allocations approved for the previous year. Deputies are tasked with evaluating these figures to determine the distribution of state resources across various sectors. The legislative assembly will scrutinize these fiscal projections to ensure compliance with the developmental goals of the state.
Social expenditure remains a central component of the 2027 budget proposal. The government has designated 1,597.533 billion FCFA for these specific programs. Social expenditures in the 2027 budget proposal amount to 1,597.533 billion FCFA. These funds are intended to support public services and welfare initiatives as outlined by the Council of Ministers in the transmitted documentation. Legislative review of these allocations will proceed according to the established parliamentary schedule following the session's opening. The deputies will deliberate on the efficacy of these social spending plans as they work toward the finalization of the 2027 finance law.
