Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Senate has extended the implementation period of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by another three months, moving the deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026.

The extension was approved on Tuesday after lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, following clause-by-clause consideration.

The legislation seeks to give Ministries, Departments and Agencies additional time to complete ongoing capital projects and utilise funds appropriated for them.

Moving the bill, Bamidele said the extension was necessary because the implementation of several capital projects under the 2025 budget had not reached the desired level despite the release of funds to the relevant MDAs.

He said extending the deadline would allow the government to complete funded capital and other critical national projects already underway.

The latest decision represents another extension of the lifespan of the 2025 capital budget. The implementation period had earlier been extended from its original deadline to June 30, 2026, and was subsequently moved to September 30.

The new extension means funds under the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act can continue to be implemented until December 31, 2026, subject to the required presidential assent.

The decision comes despite earlier commitments by the Federal Government to end overlapping budget cycles.

President Bola Tinubu had pledged during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill that his administration would move away from multiple overlapping budget cycles and operate within a single revenue cycle.

However, previous extensions of the 2025 budget were justified on the grounds that additional time was required to complete ongoing projects and ensure that appropriated funds were effectively utilised.

The Senate approved the latest extension as the National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday after an extended recess.

The National Assembly had postponed its resumption from September 15 to September 29 to allow rehabilitation work in the legislative chambers to be completed.

With the passage of the amendment bill, the 2025 capital budget will remain open for implementation for three months beyond the September 30 deadline.