In a move aimed at giving the federal government more time to complete ongoing projects, the Senate has extended the deadline for implementing the capital portion of the 2024 budget until December 31, 2025.

This decision was made during Tuesday’s plenary session after lawmakers passed an Appropriation Amendment Bill sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, announced the new extension, noting that this is the second time the 2024 capital budget implementation deadline has been pushed forward. The first extension, approved in December 2024, moved the deadline from December 31, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Senator Adeola explained that the latest extension was necessary due to financial constraints and the need to complete key infrastructure projects already in progress across the country.

“Without this extension, many critical projects could be left hanging,” he said, urging his colleagues to support the move.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier requested more time to ensure proper use of budget funds and the successful completion of capital projects. Now, with the second extension in place, Nigeria is running two parallel budgets: the extended 2024 budget and the new 2025 appropriation law.

While some critics believe the repeated extensions reflect weak budget implementation by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), supporters argue that it’s a practical step to avoid wasting money and abandoning important national projects.

Whether seen as a necessary adjustment or a sign of inefficiency, this decision means more time — and hopefully more progress — for Nigeria’s infrastructure goals.