The House of Representatives on Thursday approved an extension of the 2025 capital budget implementation period to 31 December 2026, according to a legislative amendment passed during plenary sessions. The move, initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s executive request to the National Assembly, aims to provide ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) with additional time to finalize critical infrastructure projects and capital expenditures under the 2025 fiscal framework. The decision follows a series of prior extensions, with the deadline initially set for 31 December 2025 before being progressively pushed to 31 March 2026, 30 June 2026, and 30 September 2026.
Lawmakers emphasized that the extension is necessary to prevent the abandonment of ongoing capital projects due to funding constraints. The amendment, passed through accelerated readings, grants federal agencies until the end of 2026 to fully disburse and execute capital allocations under the 2025 budget. This comes amid concerns over delayed infrastructure development and the need to ensure fiscal accountability. The National Assembly’s actions reflect a broader effort to balance legislative oversight with the practical challenges of implementing large-scale public works within tight timelines.
The extension underscores the government’s ongoing struggle to meet infrastructure targets amid budgetary and administrative hurdles. President Tinubu’s office has previously cited the complexity of coordinating across MDAs as a key factor in delaying project completions. Critics, however, argue that repeated extensions risk undermining fiscal discipline and transparency. The move also highlights the interplay between executive and legislative branches in managing national priorities, with lawmakers aligning with the administration’s push for flexibility in budget execution.
With the new deadline in place, federal agencies now face a critical window to advance projects outlined in the 2025 Appropriation Act. The extension could impact the delivery of key infrastructure, including roads, power, and public facilities, which remain central to Nigeria’s economic development agenda. The National Assembly has not yet commented on potential future adjustments to the timeline, leaving the outcome of the 2025 budget’s implementation dependent on the efficiency of MDAs and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms.