President Bola Tinubu has signed the amended 2025 Appropriation Bill into law, extending the implementation period of the budget from September 30 to December 31, 2026. This move follows the swift passage of the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, by the Senate and House of Representatives. The extension aims to enable government agencies to complete projects for which funds have already been appropriated and released.
The amendment was necessitated by the various stages involved in executing government contracts, including procurement, contract execution, mobilisation, certification of completed works, and payment processing. These processes have contributed to delays in implementing some capital projects within the previous timeframe. Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, noted that the additional time would allow Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to complete capital projects for which funds had already been appropriated and released.
This is the fourth time the National Assembly has shifted the deadline for implementing the 2025 capital budget. Previous extensions moved the deadline from December 31, 2025, to March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2026. The repeated extensions have largely centred on the need to give MDAs sufficient time to execute projects for which appropriations have already been made, particularly where delays occur during procurement, contracting, and payment processes.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed the President’s assent in a statement issued on Wednesday. Onanuga said the extension would enable MDAs to complete ongoing capital projects and ensure that funds already appropriated were fully deployed for projects and programmes intended to benefit Nigerians. The Presidency also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their prompt consideration and passage of the amendment.
The extension gives Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) another three months to implement capital projects and programmes captured in the 2025 budget. This development ensures that funds already appropriated are fully put to work for Nigerians, without disrupting critical programmes. The cooperation between the Executive and Legislature in the service of the nation has been described as another demonstration of their commitment to the nation's progress.
With the President’s latest assent, the implementation window for the affected provisions of the 2025 budget will now remain open until December 31, 2026. This allows government agencies to continue executing the affected capital projects beyond the September 30 deadline without disrupting programmes already funded under the 2025 Appropriation Act. The extension is expected to have a positive impact on the implementation of capital projects across the country.
The implementation of the 2025 budget has been marked by several challenges, including delays in project execution and funding. However, with this extension, the government is expected to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones. The President’s assent to the amended bill has been seen as a positive step towards ensuring that the 2025 budget achieves its objectives and benefits Nigerians.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu has signed the amended 2025 Appropriation Bill into law, extending the implementation period to December 31, 2026.
