The Federal Government of Nigeria has missed its September deadline to submit the 2027 budget to the National Assembly. This delay has raised new concerns about the country’s ongoing issues with timely budget submissions and the execution of financial plans.
Sources within the government attribute the missed deadline to a recent recess taken by members of the National Assembly. After spending 68 days away from their sessions, lawmakers began their new recess shortly after returning from a long break. The Assembly was initially set to resume on September 15 but pushed the date to September 29 to allow for repairs in their chambers.
When the Senate resumed, it quickly adjourned after discussing national security ahead of an upcoming summit. The House of Representatives is scheduled to return on October 13 to address pending bills and budget issues. The government had aimed to present the 2027 budget in September to help create a more consistent budget cycle.
In July, the Budget Office had completed a plan for the 2027 budget, intending to submit it by September. However, the ongoing delays in budget cycles have complicated the government’s financial planning. The National Assembly has extended the implementation of the 2025 budget’s capital projects to December 31, 2026, allowing federal agencies more time to complete their projects.
Experts have noted that some of the 2026 budget may need to carry over into 2027, as the government struggles with previous budgets. There are concerns that a significant portion of the 2025 budget remains unspent, leading to further complications.
The Budget Office has introduced stricter rules for budget submissions to prevent issues with unestablished agencies and ensure accurate payrolls. These measures are intended to improve the budget preparation process and reduce irregularities. However, with the National Assembly now on recess again, the submission of the 2027 budget will be further delayed, continuing a troubling trend for Nigeria’s financial planning.
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