The Federal Government said the implementation of the extended 30 per cent of the 2025 budget would commence by the end of next week.

It also informed that the implementation would run till November 30 2026, contrary to the earlier promise by the President that multiple budget implementation would end by March 2026 to make way for a single budget cycle from April.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, who announced this during a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the extended 2025 Capital Budget held in Abuja on Thursday, said that warrants have already been issued to MDAs and that Treasury House will commence implementation of the 30 per cent component of the 2025 Budget by the end of next week.

Ogunjimi explained that 30 per cent of the 2025 Capital Budget will be implemented between now and November 30 2026, while the remaining 70 per cent has been rolled over into the 2026 Capital Budget to ensure seamless implementation, in line with the directive of the President.

He disclosed that the GIFMIS platform has been fully restored and is now operational.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the implementation and payment of the 2025/2026 Capital Budget.

This, she said, is to curb the inherent waste associated with budget implementation in the country.

She emphasized that all capital payments must comply with the principles of the Procurement Act and that capital projects must be backed by cash before execution.

The minister warned that no capital payment should be processed outside approved procurement procedures.

She said further that the country has adequate funds to settle pending payments and urged MDAs to review and update their documentation to facilitate timely processing of payments.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Funds, Steve Ehikhamenor, told the MDAs to avoid budget overruns and strictly adhere to approved project items and their corresponding values.

He further cautioned MDAs not to exceed the amounts specified in their warrants, to return any unutilized or excess funds to the Treasury, and to liaise with GIFMIS officials for necessary technical support. He also encouraged them to ensure and abide by all relevant legal documentation.

The Federal Government could not implement the 2025 and due to revenue shortfalls and delays in budget approval.

It would be recalled that the 2023 budget was extended to December 2024, while that of 2024 was also extended to December 2025. These extensions gave little room for the implementation of the current year’s budget with the attendant confusion.

Credit: https://guardian.ng