Reps Extend 2025 Capital Budget Implementation To December 2026  

The House of Representatives has approved a further 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 extension was approved during Tuesday’s plenary following a motion moved by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.

The latest decision marks the fourth time the implementation period of the 2025 capital budget has been extended, effectively allowing projects and financial commitments under the budget to run for another three months.

The capital budget was initially scheduled to lapse on December 31, 2025. The National Assembly first extended the deadline in December 2025 to March 31, 2026, before subsequently moving it to June 30 and then September 30.

In June, the House approved the extension from June 30 to September 30, with lawmakers citing the need to allow more time for the completion of several capital projects captured in the 2025 budget.

The Senate had earlier approved the same extension.

With Tuesday’s resolution, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government will have until December 31, 2026, to execute projects and utilise funds appropriated under the 2025 capital budget.

The repeated extensions have enabled the implementation of the 2025 capital budget to continue alongside the 2026 Appropriation Act.

When the National Assembly first extended the 2025 budget’s implementation period to March 31, 2026, in December 2025, President Bola Tinubu said the move would facilitate the full release of capital implementation funds to MDAs.

Following the subsequent extension to June 30, the Presidency said the decision was aimed at allowing critical infrastructure and development projects that were already at advanced stages to be completed.

Lawmakers again extended the deadline to September 30 in June, citing incomplete projects and the need to provide additional time to prevent project abandonment and meet outstanding obligations.

Tuesday’s resolution consequently becomes the fourth extension of the implementation deadline for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act.