The Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives have extended the capital vote component of the 2025 budget till December 31. This decision was made to prevent the abandonment of ongoing projects and ensure effective use of funds already appropriated and released for projects. The extension is the fourth time the implementation timeline has been extended, with previous deadlines being March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2026.
The extension was necessitated by the slow implementation of capital projects by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele argued that the extension would provide the necessary legal and administrative window for MDAs to fully implement capital projects for which appropriations have been made and funds released. He stressed that a significant amount of capital funds released to MDAs remained unutilized.
The Senate and House of Representatives passed the Appropriations Repeal and Enactment Act 2025 (Amendment) Bill 2026, following its second and third readings. The bill was passed to prevent difficulties for MDAs seeking to complete projects already at advanced stages of implementation. Bamidele cautioned MDAs against interpreting the extension as a relaxation of accountability requirements, insisting that all expenditure during the extended period must comply with existing financial and procurement regulations.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno blamed the centralized payment system domiciled in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for contributing to delays in budget execution. He urged the Executive to review the policy, arguing that unless the centralized payment arrangement was reconsidered, the National Assembly might continue to be confronted with requests to extend the lifespan of budgets.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had written to the lawmakers seeking approval for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2026 budget. The President said the financial estimates were based on the commission's revenue and expenditure forecasts and aligned with the fiscal and developmental policies of the Federal Government and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NDDC is prioritizing youth empowerment, energy and power supply, education, industrial and enterprise development, health, security, and increased agricultural productivity, with the aim of lifting a significant number of citizens out of poverty. The President expressed hope that the lawmakers would pass the estimates expeditiously.
The lawmakers also received two bills from President Tinubu, seeking their passage. The bills are the Postgraduate Medical College Amendment Bill, 2026, and the National Research and Development Bill. The President also sought the clearance of ambassadorial and Federal Civil Service Commission (FCC) nominees.
Key points
- The Nigerian National Assembly has extended the 2025 budget capital vote deadline to December 31 to prevent project abandonment.
- The extension is the fourth time the implementation timeline has been extended.
- The National Assembly has also received the NDDC 2026 budget estimates and two bills from President Tinubu.
