The Nigerian Senate has approved a second extension of the implementation timeline for the capital component of the 2024 national budget, moving the deadline from June 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
The decision, reached during Tuesday’s plenary session, aims to ensure the full execution of capital projects outlined in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Fast-Tracked Passage of Amendment Bill
The extension was formalized through the swift passage of a bill to amend the Appropriation Act. The bill was sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, who represents Ogun West and chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The red chamber suspended its rules to allow the bill to pass through first, second, and third readings in a single sitting.
Senator Adeola justified the extension as essential for avoiding the abandonment of key national infrastructure projects.
“We must not allow these important national projects to be abandoned due to time constraints. Extending the implementation period will ensure value for money and improved service delivery,” he said.
Second Extension in a Year
This marks the second time the 2024 capital budget’s implementation has been extended. The initial extension, granted in December 2024, moved the deadline from December 31, 2024, to June 30, 2025, following a formal request by President Bola Tinubu.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who announced the first extension during the presentation of the 2025 budget proposal, urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to treat budget defence seriously and warned of consequences for non-compliance.
Despite the earlier extension, significant capital projects remain uncompleted with only days left to the June deadline, prompting the Senate to approve an additional six months.
Background: Budget Reforms and Challenges
The January-to-December budget cycle—a benchmark of fiscal discipline—was instituted by the 9th National Assembly to bring stability to Nigeria’s budgeting process. Prior to that, from 2000 to 2015, budget presentations were inconsistent, spanning various timelines under former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.
The December 18, 2024, decision to extend the budget’s life to June 2025 was influenced by delays in legislative activities, particularly surrounding President Tinubu’s tax reform bills.
The new December 2025 deadline is expected to give the federal government sufficient time to complete capital projects and improve infrastructure delivery across the country.
