House extends 2025 capital budget implementation to December 2026

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The House of Representatives has approved the extension of the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act to Dec. 31, 2026.

The extension followed consideration of a Bill seeking to amend the Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2025, during plenary after the House resumed from its annual recess.

Leading the debate, the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, cited prevailing economic and fiscal challenges, as well as the need to complete ongoing projects, as reasons for the extension.

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The latest move comes after previous extensions of the implementation period. National Assembly records show that the House had earlier extended the deadline from March 31 to June 30, 2026, while the Senate subsequently moved it to Sept. 30, 2026.

The House also considered three executive bills and communications from President Bola Tinubu.

Among them was the National Research and Development Fund Establishment Bill, which seeks to provide a framework for financing research across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

The House also received the 2026 statutory budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for consideration, as well as the National Postgraduate Medical College Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to expand the College’s mandate to include the award of Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Medicine.

Senate resumes plenary

Meanwhile, the Senate has resumed plenary after its annual recess, with President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, identifying insecurity, flooding and the high cost of living as pressing national concerns.

Akpabio condemned recent abductions, including the reported incidents at Marisa and Dekera Mosque, and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue captives and protect vulnerable communities.

He also urged leaders to ensure that economic reforms translate into improved living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Senate President called for peaceful and issue-based campaigns, stressing that no electoral contest was worth the loss of a Nigerian life.

Six communications from President Tinubu seeking confirmation of appointments, consideration of the 2026 NDDC budget and passage of establishment bills, including the National Research and Development Fund Bill, were read and referred to relevant Senate committees.

The Senate also observed a minute of silence in honour of former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris and the late Emir of Gumel, Ahmed Muhammad Sani.