Senate extends 2025 capital budget to June 2026, breaking Tinubu's deadline
The Senate on March 31, 2026, passed a bill extending the capital implementation period for the 2025 budget to June 30, 2026. This marks the second extension; the original deadline was December 31, 2025, with a prior extension to March 31, 2026. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele presented the amendment, arguing it prevents project abandonment and ensures full fund utilization. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the move.
This extension directly contradicts promises by President Bola Tinubu and Finance Minister Wale Edun to end overlapping budgets by March 31, 2026. Tinubu declared in December 2025: 'From April, Nigeria will operate on a single budget.' Edun had made a similar pledge in October 2025.
Nigeria has a persistent pattern of extending capital budgets, allowing multiple fiscal years to run concurrently. Critics argue this practice fosters inefficiency, poor planning, and potential misuse of public funds. With ongoing economic challenges, delayed project completion and fragmented budgeting waste resources needed for development.
Citizens should question why projects consistently miss deadlines and demand transparency in budget execution. What specific accountability measures can Nigerians employ to ensure future budgets are completed on time without extensions?