House of Representatives holds emergency plenary today to extend 2025 budget capital projects deadline to September
The House of Representatives convenes an emergency plenary today at 11:00 a.m. to consider extending the deadline for executing capital projects under the 2025 Appropriation Act from 30 June to 30 September 2026. Members will review the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) Act, 2025 (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, which seeks a three-month extension for the budget's capital component.
This marks the third adjustment to the 2025 budget's implementation timeline. Initially extended to 31 March 2026 in December 2025, the deadline was later moved to 30 June 2026 after the first extension expired. The Senate passed a similar bill last Thursday (9 June), paving the way for House concurrence before presidential assent. Acting Clerk Ibrahim Sidi urged lawmakers to prioritize the sitting, stating the extension allows more time for ongoing projects captured in the budget.
If approved, ministries, departments, and agencies nationwide will have until 30 September 2026 to complete capital-funded projects. The move comes shortly after the House adjourned its plenary until 7 July to conclude the third legislative year, making today's session an exceptional recall. Critics may view repeated extensions as indicative of budgetary inefficiency, while supporters argue they reflect realistic project timelines.
With this being the third extension of the 2025 budget's capital component, will the additional three months finally ensure timely project completion, or do they simply underscore persistent challenges in government execution?