Budget Office Explains Delay in Budget Implementation Reports, Sets September Deadline for Release

The Budget Office of the Federation has clarified reasons behind the delay in publishing Budget Implementation Reports (BIRs) since the second quarter of 2024, assuring stakeholders of its commitment to transparency, accountability, and timely fiscal reporting.

In a statement, the Office explained that the delay was caused by extended verification and reconciliation processes, as well as Nigeria’s transition to an extended fiscal framework. According to the agency, BIRs are not just accounting records but include physical verification of projects across the country, a process that took longer than anticipated.

It added that issuing reports under the old budget cycle, while discussions were ongoing about an extended framework, could have created conflicting data and misled stakeholders.

To address the backlog, the Budget Office announced that a provisional Budget Performance Report for the 2024 fiscal year will be released by the end of September 2025. The report will provide a snapshot of fiscal performance based on verified funding commitments.

Furthermore, beginning with the third quarter of 2025, the Office pledged to resume the timely publication of quarterly BIRs in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). The outstanding first and second quarter reports for 2025 will also be published alongside the 2024 update.

The Office revealed that it is enhancing its monitoring systems, strengthening collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and expanding digital integration of expenditure and project data to ensure future reports are both timely and credible.

Reaffirming its broader commitment, the Budget Office assured Nigerians and international partners of its resolve to restore timeliness in fiscal reporting, uphold credibility, and sustain accountability in the budget process.

Quoting the statement, the Office noted: “This delay should not be seen as backsliding, but as a reflection of the care taken to ensure accuracy and credibility in Nigeria’s fiscal reporting during an exceptional budget cycle. By the end of September 2025, we will publish the full-year 2024 Budget Performance Report alongside the outstanding Q1–Q2 2025 reports, after which quarterly releases will resume on schedule.”