The Nigerian Senate has approved another extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, moving the deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026.
The bill was passed on Tuesday after senators considered and approved its clauses during plenary.
The amendment was sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), through SB. 1067.
Bamidele argued that the extension was necessary because the implementation of several capital projects under the 2025 budget had not reached optimal levels.
He said the extension would give Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) additional time to complete ongoing projects and utilise funds already released for them.
The latest decision means the 2025 capital budget will remain operational for another three months, ending December 31, 2026.
The extension follows previous adjustments to the lifespan of the 2025 capital budget.
The original deadline was December 31, 2025, but the National Assembly subsequently extended it to March 31, 2026, then to June 30, and later to September 30, 2026.
In June, lawmakers said delays in project execution, procurement bottlenecks and administrative challenges had slowed the utilisation of appropriated funds.
The National Assembly had also warned that allowing the budget to expire could result in the abandonment of ongoing projects and the wastage of funds already committed to them.
The latest extension, however, applies specifically to the capital component of the 2025 budget, rather than the entire appropriation.
The Senate’s action is now part of a broader effort to allow government agencies to complete projects and settle outstanding obligations associated with the 2025 capital budget.
The move also highlights the continuing challenge of aligning Nigeria’s budget implementation with the country’s intended January-to-December fiscal cycle. Previous extensions had already attracted attention because they allowed elements of the 2025 budget to remain active well into 2026.
The House of Representatives had earlier concurred with the September extension in June, after passing its own amendment bill.
The latest Senate action therefore provides another window for the Federal Government and its agencies to complete outstanding capital projects funded under the 2025 Appropriation Act.
