RismadarVoice Reporters
May 17, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has defended the delay in the publication of Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports, insisting that fiscal years are defined by law and not necessarily by the January-to-December calendar cycle.
Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in response to public concerns over the delayed release of recent budget implementation reports.
According to him, the fiscal year is a legislative and legal construct determined by appropriation laws and related statutory provisions, rather than a fixed calendar arrangement.
Yakubu explained that the delay followed the repeal and re-enactment of the 2025 Appropriation Act in December 2025, as well as the extension of the implementation period of the 2025 budget to June 2026.
He noted that these adjustments legally extended the operational lifespan of the budget beyond the traditional twelve-month cycle.
“The fiscal year becomes not merely a chronological concept, but a legislatively sustained expenditure window,” he stated.
The Budget Office boss cited examples from countries such as the United States and India, where fiscal years differ from the standard calendar year due to legislative and economic considerations.
He further argued that Sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution empower the National Assembly to authorise public expenditure through appropriation laws without imposing a rigid twelve-month fiscal implementation period.
Yakubu said the Budget Office was currently carrying out reconciliations involving revenue performance, cash management, expenditure alignment and debt updates to ensure accuracy and accountability in the reports.
He assured Nigerians that the outstanding Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports would be released in phases in the coming weeks.
The Director-General also disclosed that the Budget Office was strengthening its digital reporting systems and fiscal coordination mechanisms to improve transparency and timely reporting in line with international standards.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, constitutional compliance and accountable public financial management.
