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CSJ RAISES CONCERNS OVER REPEATED EXTENSION OF NIGERIA’S CAPITAL BUDGET
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has raised concerns over the repeated extension of Nigeria’s capital budgets, warning that delays in implementatio...
By Wavers Multimedia
The latest development follows the approval of an extension allowing part of the 2025 capital budget to remain under implementation until December 2026.
The organisation said the decision means some projects contained in the 2025 capital budget will continue beyond the fiscal period for which they were originally approved.
CONCERNS OVER REPEATED BUDGET ROLLOVERS
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, CSJ said the National Assembly approved the extension following a request from the Executive.
The organisation noted that this was not an isolated occurrence, pointing to the extension of the 2024 capital budget until December 2025 and the rollover of the 2023 capital budget.
CSJ explained that 30 per cent of the 2025 capital allocation is now covered by the latest extension, while Ministries, Departments and Agencies had earlier been directed to carry over the remaining 70 per cent into the 2026 budget.
According to the organisation, the repeated movement of capital spending from one fiscal year into another goes beyond an administrative issue because capital expenditure is linked to projects and equipment that directly affect citizens.
IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES
CSJ identified security equipment, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, electricity, agriculture, water resources and other infrastructure as areas that depend on effective implementation of capital budgets.
The organisation argued that prolonged delays in executing approved capital projects could therefore affect the delivery of public infrastructure and services.
It also questioned the gap between the government's budgetary commitments and the actual implementation of approved capital expenditure.
CSJ recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's emphasis on infrastructure during his 2026 Budget Speech, including the role of infrastructure in supporting jobs and businesses.
The organisation, however, said there had been no clear indication of the implementation status of the 2026 capital budget.
CONCERNS OVER 2027 BUDGET PREPARATION
CSJ further raised concerns about the 2027–2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which it said had not been prepared and submitted to the National Assembly as of September 30, 2026.
The MTEF is expected to provide the basis for the preparation of the 2027 Appropriation Bill.
The organisation contrasted the situation with the President's stated commitment to stronger discipline in budget execution.
Tinubu had directed relevant economic officials to ensure that the 2026 Budget was implemented in line with approved provisions and timelines.
CSJ SAYS ITS EARLIER LETTER RECEIVED NO RESPONSE
CSJ also disclosed that it wrote to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on September 10 over the implementation of the 2025 and 2026 capital budgets.
The organisation said it had not received a response from the officials addressed.
Onyekpere questioned the effectiveness of legislative oversight where the National Assembly does not sufficiently compel the Executive to implement approved budgets.
CSJ also called on public officials responsible for what it described as poor fiscal execution to consider resigning if they were unwilling or unable to fulfil their responsibilities.
The organisation further demanded an apology and assurances that similar delays would not continue.
CALL FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY
The latest concerns have renewed attention on the implementation of Nigeria's annual capital budgets and the extent to which approved allocations are translated into completed projects.
CSJ is calling for clearer information on the implementation of the carried-over 2025 capital budget, the status of the 2026 capital budget and the plans for completing outstanding projects.
The organisation's position places further focus on how effectively Nigeria's annual budget cycle is being used to deliver infrastructure and public services within approved fiscal periods.