President Bola Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to extend the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act to March 31, 2026 as part of broader fiscal reforms aimed at improving public spending. In a letter dated December 18, 2025, read during a special plenary of the House of Representatives, Tinubu explained that the adjustment is intended to address the long‑standing problem of overlapping budget cycles, which has hampered effective planning and execution of government projects.
The President noted that the extension would enable the release of at least 30 percent of capital allocations to ministries, departments, and agencies, funds that have been delayed because of financing constraints. The proposal also calls for the repeal and reenactment of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts, revising the 2024 budget upward to N43.56 trillion and adjusting the 2025 budget to N48.32 trillion. These amendments aim to capture items previously unrecognized and to align budget implementation with current fiscal realities and execution capacity.
Tinubu urged lawmakers to consider and pass the bills quickly, emphasizing the need for swift action to support national development. Overlapping budgets have plagued the Federal Government since Tinubu took office in May 2023, a situation worsened by delays in budget passage, revenue shortfalls, and slow release of capital funds. The proposed extension is expected to provide a more stable fiscal framework, allowing the government to plan and execute projects more effectively.
Meanwhile, the President is scheduled to present the 2026 budget to the National Assembly, marking a crucial step in the country’s budgetary process. Extending the 2025 Appropriation Act should positively impact economic development by enabling timely utilization of resources and project implementation. With the Assembly’s approval, the government can advance its fiscal reforms, aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public spending. The lawmakers’ decision on the proposal is eagerly awaited, as it will shape the trajectory of the nation’s budgetary process in the coming year.
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