By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Wednesday approved a three-month extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026, to allow Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) complete ongoing projects and fully utilize released funds.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Senate Majority Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno and adopted after the chamber suspended Order 1(b) of its Standing Rules to allow immediate consideration of the matter.

Presenting the motion, Monguno said the extension had become necessary because a significant portion of funds already released for capital projects had not been utilized due to procurement processes, project implementation challenges and other administrative bottlenecks.

According to him, “The 2025 Appropriation Act was enacted to provide funding for the implementation of government programmes, projects and activities aimed at promoting economic growth, infrastructure development, national security and the welfare of Nigerians.”

He added that, “Despite substantial releases made by the Federal Government to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the execution of approved projects and programmes, a significant proportion of the first release remains unutilised due to procurement timelines, project implementation challenges and other administrative processes.”

He warned that failure to extend the implementation period could jeopardise several critical projects already nearing completion.

“A number of strategic capital projects across critical sectors of the economy are at advanced stages of completion and require additional time for execution, certification and payment,” he said.

Monguno further noted that, “Failure to extend the implementation period may result in the abandonment of critical projects, wastage of already committed public resources and disruption of ongoing government interventions.”

Following deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers.

The Senate subsequently resolved to support an amendment to the 2025 Appropriation Act extending the implementation period of the capital component by an additional 90 days.

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate said the extension would help prevent waste, improve budget performance and ensure the completion of projects already at advanced stages across the country.

The Senate maintained that the extension applies only to the capital component of the 2025 budget and is intended to facilitate the efficient utilisation of released funds, enhance service delivery and ensure value for money in public expenditure.

The resolution is expected to be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before the amendment takes effect.

With the extension, Ministries, Departments and Agencies now have until September 30, 2026, to execute, certify and make payments for capital projects captured under the 2025 budget.

Having actualized the extension of the 2025 budget to September 30, the President of the Senate, adjourned Senate till July 7, noting that the nearly three weeks break was to mark the end of a legislative session.

He appealed to committees that have pending oversight or crucial assignments to use the period to conclude such work.

9By George Mgbeleke

By George Mgbeleke

Senate Committee on Public Accounts has given Bank of Agriculture, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, and Rural Electrification Agency
one week to appear before it and respond to outstanding audit queries.

The directive followed their failure to appear before the committee during the committee’s hearing on Tuesday in Abuja.

However, the secretary of the committee informed the chairman of the committee,
Sen Ibrahim Dankwambo ( Gombe North) that he received a correspondence from the Bank of Agriculture signed by its legal adviser.

The letter stated that the bank had previously appeared before the panel between February 2023 and November 2024.

In the letter, the bank also stated that issues raised during those appearances had been resolved with the committee and relevant government authorities.

The bank, however, requested details of any unresolved matters and sought at least two weeks to enable its management collate documents.

The chairman of the committee, Sen Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North)
faulted the letter, noting that it was signed by officials below the rank of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Dankwambo maintained that all communications relating to committee invitations must be personally signed and transmitted by agency chief executives.

He also criticised the bank’s failure to present its Managing Director before the committee in spite of the fact that they were invited to explain outstanding audit issues.

The committee rejected the request for two weeks, insisting that agencies could not determine timelines for legislative oversight proceedings.

The committee members unanimously resolved that the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture must personally appear before the committee within one week.

The lawmakers stressed that previous audit concerns involving the bank remained unresolved, contrary to claims contained in the correspondence.

The committee further warned that future communications signed by subordinate officers instead of chief executives would no longer be entertained.

The lawmakers also described the absence of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and the Rural Electrification Agency as unacceptable and directed that the organisations be given a final one-week opportunity to appear before the panel.

Several members of the committee expressed concern over what they described as a growing pattern of disregard for legislative summons by government agencies.

They noted that audit queries were serious accountability matters requiring prompt responses and should not be treated with indifference by public institutions.

The committee emphasised that it was acting on reports submitted through constitutional processes and not pursuing issues outside its statutory mandate.

The committee warned that agencies failing to honour invitations after the final notice would face sanctions in line with its powers.

Dankwambo said strong letters would be issued immediately to the defaulting agencies outlining unresolved issues requiring their attention.

He added that the agencies must appear within one week or risk sanctions for failing to cooperate with legislative oversight responsibilities