BudgIT calls for budget reform over FG’s deferment of 2025 capital projects

By Kunle Sanni –

Civil society organisation BudgIT has expressed cautious concern over the Federal Government’s decision to defer the implementation of about 70 per cent of capital projects approved in the 2025 budget to the 2026 fiscal year.

The deferment was announced by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, signalling a significant adjustment to the execution of the 2025 capital budget.

In a press statement on Monday, BudgIT said the decision, though not entirely unexpected, reflects the federal government’s intention to limit the number of ongoing capital projects in order to improve efficiency, prioritise critical interventions, and address the persistent problem of abandoned projects across the country.

According to the organisation’s analysis, the move suggests an attempt by the government to retain existing 2025 capital projects—many of which are tied to current economic plans and strategies—rather than introducing an entirely new slate of projects in 2026.

“From our perspective, this appears to be a restructuring of the sequencing of capital project implementation,” BudgIT said. “Instead of rolling out a fresh budget crowded with new capital projects, the government seems to be attempting a reset by carrying forward existing projects and enforcing better implementation discipline.”

BudgIT noted that, if properly managed, the approach could help stabilise Nigeria’s strained fiscal position and improve the credibility of the budgeting process. However, the organisation warned that without strong oversight and adherence to timelines, the deferment could further entrench inefficiencies.

The budget advocacy group also reiterated its long-standing concerns about Nigeria’s budgeting practices, particularly the failure to comply with the approved budget calendar and the tendency to run multiple fiscal programmes simultaneously.

“These practices create significant opportunities for waste, inefficiency, and abuse of public resources,” BudgIT stated, stressing that budget timelines should be treated as sacrosanct.