The decision, taken during plenary on Thursday, is aimed at preventing the abandonment of ongoing projects and ensuring that funds already released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are fully utilised.
The motion was sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Senator Tahir Monguno and considered after lawmakers suspended relevant Senate rules to allow for its immediate consideration.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the extension had become necessary due to procurement delays, implementation challenges and administrative bottlenecks that had slowed the execution of several government-funded projects despite substantial budget releases.
According to him, many strategic capital projects across critical sectors are at advanced stages and require additional time for execution, certification and payment.
Bamidele warned that allowing the implementation period to expire at the end of June could result in the abandonment of important projects, wastage of public resources and disruption of ongoing government interventions.
Following deliberations, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the proposal through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate subsequently resolved to amend the 2025 Appropriation Act to provide an additional 90 days for the implementation of capital expenditure projects.
Lawmakers who supported the extension argued that it would improve budget performance, reduce waste in public spending and ensure the completion of infrastructure and development projects nationwide.
The Senate clarified that the extension applies only to the capital component of the 2025 budget and is intended to enhance project delivery, improve value for money and strengthen fiscal discipline.
The resolution will be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before taking effect.
If approved by the House, MDAs will have until September 30, 2026, to complete execution, certification and payment processes relating to capital projects captured in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
