The Federal Government has instructed ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to roll over 70 percent of their 2025 capital budgets into the 2026 financial year, as the administration shifts its focus toward completing ongoing projects in the face of shrinking revenues and rising fiscal strain.
The directive, contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular issued by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, was distributed to ministers, service chiefs, and heads of agencies. The circular outlines strict rules for preparing the 2026 budget, including a prohibition on proposing new capital projects.
According to the document, MDAs are required to “upload 70 per cent of their 2025 FGN Budget to continue in FY2026,” ensuring that all rolled-over projects align with key government priorities such as national security, economic expansion, health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, power, energy, and social welfare.
Also Read: http://Rivers Turns Back on Oil Dependence
The ministry explained that only 30 per cent of the 2025 capital vote will be released next year, while the remaining 70 per cent will form the core of the 2026 capital programme. This framework, it said, is designed to curb duplication, promote continuity, and reduce the backlog of uncompleted projects. MDAs were also cautioned against exceeding their 2025 overhead limits in their 2026 proposals, despite inflationary pressures.
The 2026 budget, the circular stressed, must align with the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2026–2028), the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Plan, the Ward Development Plan, the National Development Plan, and the Accelerated Stabilisation and Actualisation Plan.
MDAs will submit proposals through the GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem, while government-owned enterprises will make entries via BIMS, with a deadline of December 9, 2025.
Pre-computed personnel costs, based on IPPIS data, will be communicated to each ministry. Fiscal projections show a tighter revenue environment for 2026, with total government funds expected to drop slightly to N54.46tn from N54.99tn in 2025.
