Senate backs further extension of 2025 capital budget
Nigeria’s Senate has approved a bill extending implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from September 30 to December 31, 2026. Sponsor Opeyemi Bamidele said the measure would give government agencies more time to complete projects and use released funds, subject to presidential assent.
The Senate has approved another extension of the implementation period for Nigeria’s 2025 capital budget, moving the deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026. The measure followed the passage of a bill sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele of the All Progressives Congress, representing Ekiti Central. The bill was passed after lawmakers considered its clauses.
It seeks to amend the 2025 Appropriation Act and keep its capital component open for an additional three months. Bamidele said the extension was necessary because capital projects being implemented by ministries, departments and agencies had not reached optimal levels, despite the release of funds to the agencies. The additional time is intended to enable government bodies to complete ongoing projects and utilise appropriated funds.
The extension will take effect only after presidential assent. The latest decision represents the third change to the implementation deadline cited in the report. The National Assembly had previously moved it from March 31 to June 30, 2026, and later to September 30, 2026.
The extension comes despite the Federal Government’s earlier pledge to end overlapping budget cycles. While presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill in December 2025, President Bola Tinubu said the government would move towards a single revenue cycle. The Presidency had previously defended extensions as necessary to consolidate ongoing works, improve completion rates and maximise the value of public spending.
The Senate approved the latest bill on the first day of resumed plenary after a recess extended to allow rehabilitation work in the legislative chambers.
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