President Bola Tinubu has approved a further extension of the implementation period of the 2025 Appropriation Act, moving the deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026.

The President’s assent to the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, followed its passage by both chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the extension will enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies to complete ongoing capital projects and ensure that funds already appropriated are utilised for approved programmes.

Tinubu also commended the Senate and House of Representatives for their prompt consideration of the amendment, describing it as a demonstration of cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The Senate had earlier approved the extension following a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, after an executive session and clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

Bamidele said the measure was intended to sustain economic activities, support local contractors, improve the utilisation of released funds, strengthen budget implementation and enhance public service delivery.

He stressed that the amendment was not designed to introduce new projects, adding that the extension should not be viewed as a relaxation of fiscal responsibility but as a measure consistent with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The 2025 budget implementation deadline has now been extended four times. Initially scheduled to end in December 2025, it was moved to March 31, 2026, then June 30, and subsequently September 30.

The House of Representatives also approved the extension of the capital component of the 2025 budget following an executive request seeking additional time for MDAs to complete critical infrastructure and other capital projects captured in the fiscal plan.