Despite promises from the Tinubu government that Nigeria would stop using overlapping budgets, the Senate has extended the capital part of the 2025 federal budget until 30 September 2026.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during a meeting on Thursday. Most senators supported the proposal with a voice vote.
Akpabio's decision suggests that President Bola Tinubu may not keep his promise to end the practice of extending budget implementation beyond the fiscal year.
There was no official request from President Tinubu for the budget extension. Still, many believe the senators would not have taken this step without the Presidency's knowledge.
This marks the third time lawmakers have extended the capital part of the 2025 budget.
The first extension happened in December 2025. The budget's original end date was 31 March 2026. It was moved to allow the federal government to finish ongoing projects included in the budget.
When that extension expired on 31 March, lawmakers pushed the deadline to 30 June 2026 for the same reasons.
On 9 October 2025, the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance. He discussed the 2025 budget's performance and promised to end the practice of extending budget implementation beyond the fiscal year.
In December 2025, while presenting the 2026 budget, President Tinubu promised to stop overlapping budgets. He assured Nigerians that all unpaid capital liabilities would be fully funded by 31 March 2026.
"Weβre terminating the habit of running three budgets in one flow. By March 31, 2026, all capital liabilities from previous years will be fully funded and closed. From April, Nigeria will operate on a single budget," the president said.
The bill for the extension was sponsored by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno during the session.
Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, said the extension was needed to ensure enough funding for government programs and projects.
"Despite substantial releases made by the federal government to ministries, departments, and agencies for approved projects, a significant portion of the first release remains unspent due to procurement timelines, project implementation challenges, and other administrative processes," he explained.
He added that many projects across the country are unfinished and need more funding and time to complete.
"Several strategic capital projects across critical sectors of the economy are at an advanced stage of completion and require additional time for execution, certification, and fermentation. If we do not extend the implementation period of the 2024 Appropriation Act, we may abandon critical projects, waste public resources, and disrupt ongoing government interventions," Monguno stated.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, agreed that the extension was necessary to finish ongoing projects.
Akpabio told senators that there was little need for a long debate on the proposal since they understood the reasons behind it.
The senators then agreed and approved the extension.
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