By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts, alongside a proposal to extend the implementation of the 2025 budget to March 31, 2026, in a move with far-reaching implications for national fiscal planning.
The request, which comes amid ongoing efforts to reform public finance management, is aimed at aligning federal spending with current economic realities, improving budget execution and strengthening accountability across government institutions.
The President’s request was conveyed in a letter dated December 18, 2025, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and read on the floor of the House on Friday.
In the letter, Tinubu transmitted the Appropriation (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bills for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years for legislative consideration, in accordance with constitutional and appropriation procedures.
According to the President, the 2024 Appropriation Act, initially approved at N35.06 trillion, is proposed to be repealed and re-enacted at an increased sum of N43.56 trillion.
He explained that the revised 2024 budget comprises N1.74 trillion for statutory transfers, N8.27 trillion for debt service, N11.27 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N22.28 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contributions for the year ending December 31, 2025.
Similarly, Tinubu proposed the repeal of the 2025 Appropriation Act of N54.99 trillion and its re-enactment at N48.32 trillion.
He noted that the reworked 2025 budget provides for N3.65 trillion in statutory transfers, N14.32 trillion for debt service, N13.59 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N16.71 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contributions.
Under the proposal, the lifespan of the 2025 budget would be extended to March 31, 2026, instead of ending on December 31, 2025.
The President said the repeal and re-enactment were necessary to accommodate budgetary items not previously recognised and to reflect a revised capital implementation target of 30 per cent.
He added that the adjustment aligns with prevailing fiscal realities and the government’s execution capacity, while ensuring more credible and transparent budget performance across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Tinubu further explained that the extension of the 2025 budget would allow for the full release of the targeted 30 per cent capital funds to MDAs, thereby improving project delivery nationwide.
According to him, the proposals form part of broader fiscal reforms aimed at eliminating the overlap of multiple running budgets, improving planning, strengthening execution and enhancing accountability in public expenditure.
The President also said the bills seek to reinforce implementation discipline by ensuring that appropriated funds are released strictly for approved purposes, limiting virement to cases sanctioned by the National Assembly, and setting conditions for corrigenda where genuine errors may occur.
Other provisions include separate recording of excess revenue, restrictions on its expenditure without legislative approval, mandatory compliance with due process, and periodic reporting on fund releases and agency-generated revenues.
Tinubu informed lawmakers that the submission supersedes an earlier letter dated December 16, 2025, and urged the National Assembly to consider and pass the bills expeditiously in the national interest.