Again, Senate extends 2025 budget

The Senate on Wednesday approved a further three-month extension for the implementation of the capital components of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026. According to the Red Chamber, the extension is to allow Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to complete ongoing projects and fully utilize released funds. […]

The Senate on Wednesday approved a further three-month extension for the implementation of the capital components of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026.

According to the Red Chamber, the extension is to allow Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to complete ongoing projects and fully utilize released funds.

Daily Trust reports that the legislators had previously extended the budget implementation deadline to June 30.

The new extension followed a motion moved by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Tahir Monguno, which was adopted after the chamber suspended Order 1(b) of its Standing Rules to allow for immediate consideration of the matter.

Presenting the motion, Monguno explained that the extension had become necessary because a significant portion of the funds already released for capital projects remained unutilized due to procurement processes, project implementation challenges, and other administrative bottlenecks.

According to him, “The 2025 Appropriation Act was enacted to provide funding for the implementation of government programmes, projects, and activities aimed at promoting economic growth, infrastructure development, national security, and the welfare of Nigerians.”

He added, “Despite substantial releases made by the Federal Government to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for the execution of approved projects and programmes, a significant proportion of the first release remains unutilised due to procurement timelines, project implementation challenges, and other administrative processes.”

He warned that failure to extend the implementation period could jeopardize several critical projects that are already nearing completion.

“A number of strategic capital projects across critical sectors of the economy are at advanced stages of completion and require additional time for execution, certification, and payment,” Monguno said.

He further noted that, “Failure to extend the implementation period may result in the abandonment of critical projects, wastage of already committed public resources, and disruption of ongoing government interventions.”

Following deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from the lawmakers.