The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has expressed concern over the Federal Government and National Assembly's decision to extend the implementation of the 2025 capital budget to December 2026. According to the CSJ, this move undermines fiscal discipline and raises questions about the government's commitment to budget execution. The organization noted that this is not an isolated incident, as the 2024 capital budget was also extended to December 2025, and the 2023 capital budget was rolled over.
The National Assembly, with the executive's prompting, approved the extension of the implementation period for part of the 2025 capital budget. The CSJ stated that only 30% of the 2025 capital vote is being extended, while Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were earlier directed to roll over the remaining 70%, which formed the foundation of the 2026 capital budget. This development has raised concerns about the gap between parliamentary appropriation and actual delivery.
The CSJ emphasized that repeated budget rollovers are not merely accounting or administrative issues but have significant implications for citizens' welfare and national security. Capital expenditure funds projects and equipment critical to citizens' welfare, such as security equipment and ammunition, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, electricity, agriculture, and water infrastructure. The organization argued that timely capital budget implementation is essential for these projects.
The CSJ also expressed concern about the lack of transparency and accountability in the budget implementation process. The organization noted that there is still no clear account of the implementation of the 2026 capital budget, and the 2027-2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) had not been prepared and laid before the National Assembly as of September 30, 2026. This lack of transparency raises questions about the government's commitment to budget discipline.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had emphasized the importance of infrastructure in his 2026 Budget Speech, describing it as essential for businesses to scale and create jobs. He also pledged to ensure stronger discipline in budget execution. However, the CSJ noted that the government's actions so far have not demonstrated a commitment to this pledge. The organization had written to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the implementation of the 2025 and 2026 capital budgets but received no response.
The CSJ described the situation as a serious accountability issue, arguing that prolonged delays in capital expenditure translate into delayed infrastructure, weaker public services, and lost opportunities for citizens and businesses. The organization emphasized that the government must prioritize budget discipline and transparency to ensure that capital budgets are implemented on time and effectively.
The repeated rollovers of capital budgets have significant implications for Nigeria's economic growth and development. The CSJ's concerns highlight the need for the government to address the issues of budget implementation and accountability to ensure that citizens' welfare and national security are prioritized. The organization's criticism of the government's handling of capital budgets underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the budget process.
Key points
- Centre for Social Justice criticizes FG and NASS over repeated capital budget rollovers
- Repeated budget rollovers undermine fiscal discipline and raise concerns about government's commitment to budget execution
- Lack of transparency and accountability in budget implementation process raises concerns about government's commitment to budget discipline
