Senate extends 2025 Budget implementation to September

By Henry Umoru, Abuja

The Senate has extended the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget by three months, shifting the deadline to September 30, 2026.

The decision moves the previous deadline from June 30, 2026, and is aimed at giving Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) more time to complete ongoing infrastructure projects and fully utilise released funds.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), during Thursday’s plenary.

Lawmakers said the extension was necessary to prevent the abandonment of key capital projects, ensure proper use of public funds, and improve overall budget performance amid procurement delays and administrative bottlenecks.

It is the third extension of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, which was initially moved from December 31, 2025, to March 31, 2026, then to June 30, and now to September 30, 2026.

Senators noted that while significant funds had already been released, many MDAs were yet to fully utilise them due to project execution challenges and procurement processes.

Monguno said several major projects were already at advanced stages and required additional time for completion, certification, and payment. He warned that failure to extend the timeline could lead to abandoned projects and wasted public resources.

He added that extending the implementation period would improve budget performance and support national development objectives.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), supported the motion, noting that while some capital payments had begun, several outstanding obligations remained.

He referenced President Bola Tinubu’s earlier briefing to the National Assembly that 30 per cent of the capital expenditure would be accommodated in a rolled-over budget, while 70 per cent would be captured in the 2026 budget.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also backed the extension, saying it was in line with constitutional powers of the legislature and necessary for effective budget execution.

He said although implementation had begun, a significant number of commitments were still pending and required additional time for settlement.

Akpabio expressed confidence that the new deadline would allow MDAs to complete ongoing projects while ensuring a smoother transition into the next budget cycle.

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