By AriseNews | June 25, 2025
In a crucial move to salvage ongoing national infrastructure projects, the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved a second extension of the 2024 capital budget, moving its implementation deadline from June 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
This decision allows the Federal Government more time to execute projects under the ₦13.19 trillion capital component of the revised ₦34 trillion 2024 national budget. The bill to amend the Appropriation Act passed all three legislative readings in a single session.
Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, justified the extension, stating it was necessary to prevent project abandonment and protect investments already committed to critical infrastructure.
Other lawmakers expressed deep concerns about delays in fund releases and poor implementation of the capital budget—especially compared to the consistent disbursement of recurrent expenditure. Senator Seriake Dickson lamented that “governance is taking a backseat,” while Senator Yahaya Abdullahi criticized the centralised payment bottlenecks managed by the Office of the Accountant-General.
The Senate also expressed worries over eroding public trust in Nigeria’s fiscal processes, with calls for a detailed report on budget implementation challenges within two weeks.
Implications for Constituency Representation: Hon. Abiola Makinde’s Position Vindicated
This national development sheds new light on recent criticisms aimed at Hon. Abiola Makinde, the Member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency. A controversial civic group known as the Ekimogun Roundtable had accused him of underperformance, particularly in the execution of constituency projects.
However, the Senate’s resolution clearly shows that capital projects across the country have suffered due to systemic delays in fund disbursement—not personal negligence or inefficiency on the part of individual lawmakers.
A community leader responding to the development stated:
“It is unwise to circulate unverified information that fuels needless accusations. The truth is, even federal ministries are not receiving funds. So how can a legislator manufacture money to execute projects?”
He emphasized that Hon. Makinde remains a committed servant-leader, known for transformational projects and consistent community engagement.
“No amount of condemnation from detractors can halt the good work God has started through him,” he concluded.
This reality reinforces the importance of fact-based civic discourse and the need for citizens to understand the limitations legislators face under a dysfunctional implementation framework.
As Nigeria now operates two parallel budgets—an extended 2024 capital budget and the 2025 approved budget—pressure mounts on the Executive and fiscal managers to restore credibility and accelerate development before the next election cycle.