Nigerian Senate Extends 2025 Budget Deadline to 2026

On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate approved a three-month extension for the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriations Act, moving the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026. This decision aims to prevent project abandonment and ensure the full utilization of already released public funds across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The motion was moved by Senate Minority Leader Tahir Monguno and adopted under a suspension of the Senate's standing rules. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the extension became necessary due to delays in project execution caused by procurement bottlenecks and administrative constraints.

Despite significant releases under the 2025 Appropriations Act, a substantial portion of the funds remains unutilized due to challenges in project implementation. Bamidele warned that failing to grant additional time could lead to the abandonment of critical projects and waste of public resources.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put the proposal to a voice vote, which was overwhelmingly approved.