*The Nigerian Senate explains the approval of a three-month extension for implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from June 30 to September 30, 2026, will help to prevent project abandonment and ensure full utilisation of already released public funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
The Nigerian Senate has approved a three-month extension for the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act.
ConsumerConnect reports the Senate Thursday, June 11, 2026, disclosed that shifting the last year’s implementation deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026, in a move aimed at preventing project abandonment while ensuring full utilisation of already released public funds across government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Senator Tahir Monguno, the decision followed a motion moved by Senator Tahir Monguno, Senate Minority Leader, and was adopted after lawmakers suspended Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Rules to allow for immediate consideration of the request, underscoring the urgency attached to budget execution concerns.
During the debate on the extension of 2025 Budget implementation, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, explained that the adjustment has become necessary due to delays in project execution, procurement bottlenecks and administrative constraints.
Bamidele said those constraints had slowed down implementation of the said budget despite significant releases to MDAs over the months.
The Senate Leader stated: “The 2025 Appropriation Act was enacted to provide funding for the implementation of government programmes, projects and activities aimed at promoting economic growth, infrastructure development, national security and the welfare of Nigerians.
“Despite substantial releases made by the Federal Government to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the execution of approved projects and programmes, a significant proportion of the first release remains unutilised due to procurement timelines, project implementation challenges and other administrative processes.”
Bamidele also cautioned that failure to grant additional time for implementation could expose ongoing capital projects to abandonment, with attendant financial waste and disruption of government interventions already underway across key sectors of the economy.
He further noted: “A number of strategic capital projects across critical sectors of the economy are at advanced stages of completion and require additional time for execution, certification and payment.
“Failure to extend the implementation period may result in the abandonment of critical projects, wastage of already committed public resources and disruption of ongoing government interventions.”
After the debate on the motion in the Upper Legislative Chamber, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio put the proposal to a voice vote.
The Senators overwhelmingly approved the extension of the budget implementation.
The Senate thereafter resolved to support an amendment to the 2025 Appropriation Act, extending the implementation period of the capital component 90 additional days.
Lawmakers who contributed to the debate argued that the extension would help improve budget performance, reduce waste in public expenditure and ensure that ongoing infrastructure and development projects are not stalled midway.
The Red Chamber emphasised that the extension applies strictly to the capital component of the 2025 Budget, and is designed to enhance efficiency in project delivery, improve value for money, and strengthen fiscal discipline in public spending.
The leadership of the Senate said the resolution would be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before it becomes operational.
Meanwhile, in view of the Senate approval for extension of the implementation of capital components of last year’s budget estimates, the MDAs now have up till September 30, 2026, to complete execution, certification, and payment processes for capital projects captured under the 2025 Appropriation Act.