The Nigerian Senate has approved a second extension for the implementation of the capital component of the 2024 national budget, moving the deadline from June 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
The resolution was adopted during plenary on Tuesday following the presentation and accelerated passage of a bill sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation and representative of Ogun West.
The bill, aimed at amending the 2024 Appropriation Act, scaled through first, second, and third readings in one sitting after the red chamber suspended its rules.
“We must not allow these important national projects to be abandoned due to time constraints,” Adeola said.
“Extending the implementation period will ensure value for money and improved service delivery.”
Second Extension in Seven Months
This marks the second extension granted to the 2024 capital budget. The initial deadline of December 31, 2024, was first shifted to June 30, 2025, after a request from President Bola Tinubu in December 2024, aimed at optimising capital expenditure and completing infrastructure projects.
However, with the June deadline just days away and many projects still uncompleted, the Senate approved an additional six-month window for execution.
‘Nothing Has Changed’ — Ningi
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) expressed disappointment over the government’s poor budget implementation, citing unresolved concerns despite previous engagements.
“Recall, this was an issue before the Senate in both plenary and in an executive session last year,” he said.
“Also recall, in March, this was an issue. The Senate mandated the leadership to liaise with the minister of finance and the accountant-general. Three months down the line, nothing has happened, and nothing has changed.”
Ningi also raised concerns about alleged selective disbursement of funds by the Ministry of Finance.
Moro: National Assembly Becoming a National Embarrassment
Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), the Senate Minority Leader, warned that the National Assembly risks becoming “an embarrassment” if it fails to hold the executive accountable.
“Unless we take it up very seriously with the Ministry of Finance, this parliament will be an embarrassment onto itself,” Moro said.
“Even contractors who had money and executed projects are now reluctant to continue, fearing they won’t be paid.”
He reluctantly supported the extension but emphasised that many contractors had either stalled or completed projects without reimbursement.
Dickson: Government Grounded, Capital Spending Stalled
Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) described the situation as dire, lamenting that the capital components of the budget — the ones meant to benefit the people — have been left unattended.
“Government has grounded — that’s what it means,” he said.
“Contractors who have done their jobs, committed their resources, cannot be paid. The benefits of the budget… have not gotten to the people.”
He pointed out that while recurrent spending for bureaucrats had been fully disbursed, capital projects that impact citizens directly remain stagnant.
‘Government Focused on 2027 Elections’
Dickson further criticised the federal government for prioritising politics over governance, alleging that preparations for the 2027 elections have taken precedence over national development.
“The government is focused on politics and receiving defectors into APC, while the business of governance is being neglected,” he stated.
The amendment bill has also passed its second reading at the House of Representatives and now moves to the committee stage for further consideration.
[TheCable]
