Lawmakers Approve Three-Month Extension for 2025 Capital Budget

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate has once again approved a three-month extension for the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30.

The approval followed the adoption of a motion presented by the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), during plenary on Thursday.
While moving the motion, Monguno explained that the extension became necessary due to substantial unutilised funds already released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for projects captured in the 2025 budget.
According to him, delays arising from procurement procedures, project execution challenges and administrative processes have slowed the implementation of several critical government projects.
He noted that many strategic projects across key sectors of the economy are already at advanced stages and require additional time for completion, certification and payment.
“Failure to extend the implementation period of the 2025 Appropriation Act may result in the abandonment of critical projects, the wastage of already committed public resources and the disruption of ongoing government interventions,” he said.
Monguno further argued that some allocations contained in the budget may not be accommodated in future appropriation cycles if the implementation period expires.
According to him, such a development would create funding gaps and undermine development objectives.
He added that extending the budget’s validity period would improve budget performance, facilitate efficient utilisation of released funds and support economic growth.
“Granting a further extension of the implementation period is in the national interest and will ensure value for money in public expenditure,” he stated.
Supporting the motion, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun), clarified that the extension applies specifically to the capital component of the budget.
Adeola explained that when President Bola Tinubu presented the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, it was expected that 30 per cent of implementation would be completed by March 31, while the remaining 70 per cent would be rolled over into the 2026 budget.
However, he noted that the implementation target was not met, forcing the National Assembly to earlier extend the budget’s lifespan to June 30.
“While we were passing the 2026 budget, due to the non-implementation of that promise, we were forced to extend the budget to June 30,” he said.
He added that although payments had commenced, significant obligations were still outstanding.
“There is a need to extend this budget beyond June 30 to September 30. By then, we are hopeful that the outstanding 30 per cent will have been paid in full, while implementation of the components transferred to the 2026 budget can commence,” Adeola said.
He urged lawmakers to support the extension to ensure smooth implementation of projects and avoid disruptions to government programmes.
Sen. Victor Umeh (NDC-Anambra), who seconded the motion, stressed the need to sustain the execution of projects contained in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
“In view of the need to sustain the continued execution of the projects covered in the 2025 Appropriation Act, as amended, I hereby second the motion,” Umeh said.
Following deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the proposal to a voice vote, and it received overwhelming support from lawmakers.
In his remarks, Akpabio said the extension was necessary to prevent interruptions in payments and project execution.
“The payment would have stopped halfway if this was not done,” he said.
The Senate President also commended the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and other lawmakers involved in handling the matter.
He directed that the Senate’s resolution be communicated to the Executive for implementation.
“Accordingly, the resolution of the Senate is being communicated to the Executive that the 2025 Appropriation Act has been extended to Sept. 30,” Akpabio stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the National Assembly had earlier extended the implementation period of the 2025 budget to June 30 due to delays in the release and utilisation of capital funds.
The Senate subsequently adjourned plenary until July 7. (NAN).