…warns against abandoned projects
By David Oluwatosin
The Senate has extended the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriations Act from September 30 to December 31, 2026, giving Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) an additional three months to complete eligible projects.
The extension was approved on Tuesday following the passage of the bill amending the Appropriations (Repeal and Enactment) Act 2025.
The Senate considered the bill, numbered SB 1067, through second and third readings on the same day after suspending the relevant rules.
It is the fourth extension of the implementation deadline for the 2025 capital budget, which was originally scheduled to expire in December 2025.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said several capital projects remained at different stages of implementation, while some funds already released to MDAs had not been fully utilised.
He said allowing the September 30 deadline to expire could create difficulties for agencies seeking to complete projects already underway and increase the risk of abandoned projects.
Bamidele stressed that the extension did not constitute a fresh appropriation, but was intended to provide additional time within the existing legal framework for implementing projects covered by the 2025 capital budget.
He added that all expenditure during the extended period must comply with existing financial regulations, procurement laws and other applicable legislation.
During the debate, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno raised concerns over bottlenecks affecting budget implementation.
Monguno specifically questioned the centralised payment system operated through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, arguing that delays associated with the arrangement could contribute to repeated requests for extensions.
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He called on the executive to review the system to improve the speed and efficiency of budget implementation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the extension was necessary to enable the Federal Government to settle outstanding obligations associated with capital projects under the 2025 budget.
According to him, allowing the existing deadline to lapse could increase the number of abandoned projects, particularly where contractors were yet to complete work or receive full payment.
Akpabio urged the government to use the additional period to settle outstanding obligations and accelerate the completion of ongoing projects.
The 2025 capital budget implementation deadline has now been extended four times.
The initial deadline was December 2025, before it was moved successively to March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2026.
The latest amendment extends implementation to December 31, 2026, subject to applicable laws, financial regulations and legislative oversight.
The Senate subsequently adopted the report of the Committee of Supply and passed SB 1067.
The lawmakers later adjourned plenary until October 13, 2026.
