Lawmakers approve another three-month extension to allow MDAs complete ongoing projects….
The Senate has approved a further three-month extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, moving the deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026.
The extension was approved on Tuesday after lawmakers considered and passed a bill sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central.
The amendment allows Ministries, Departments and Agencies to continue implementing capital projects funded under the 2025 budget beyond the existing deadline.
Presenting the bill, Bamidele said the extension was necessary because the implementation of several capital projects had yet to reach the desired level despite funds having been released to the relevant MDAs.
The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Appropriations (Repeal & Enactment) Act 2025 to Extend the Implementation of the Capital Aspect of the Appropriations (Repeal & Enactment) Act 2025 from 30th September, 2026 to 31st December, 2026 and for Other Related Matters, 2026, was considered clause by clause before it was passed.
The latest extension is the third adjustment to the lifespan of the 2025 capital budget.
The National Assembly had initially extended its implementation from March 31 to June 30, 2026, before approving another extension to September 30.
Those extensions were justified by the need to complete ongoing projects, meet outstanding obligations and ensure that funds already appropriated were effectively utilised.
The latest decision, however, means the 2025 capital budget will remain open until the end of December, subject to presidential assent.
It also comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s commitment to end overlapping budget cycles.
While presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill in December 2025, President Bola Tinubu said the administration would move away from multiple budget cycles and operate within a single revenue cycle.
The government had nevertheless maintained that extending the 2025 budget was necessary to allow MDAs complete projects already underway and maximise the impact of public spending.
In April, the Presidency said an earlier extension would give government agencies additional time to consolidate ongoing works, improve project completion and derive greater value from appropriated funds.
The Senate approved the latest extension as the National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday following an extended recess.
The lawmakers had postponed their September 15 resumption to September 29 to allow rehabilitation work in the legislative chambers to be completed.
With the Senate’s approval, the capital component of the 2025 budget now has another three months for implementation, taking the deadline to December 31, 2026.
