Senate : N1.8tr FCT Budget Passes 2nd Reading

The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading the N1.8 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The bill, transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was presented during plenary in Abuja by Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, who urged lawmakers to consider its general principles and allow for swift legislative processing.

Bamidele explained that the budget seeks to authorize the issuance of N1.7 trillion from the FCT’s statutory revenue fund to fund key infrastructure and service delivery across the territory.

Breakdown of the proposal includes:

N150 billion for personnel cost,
N343 billion for overhead cost and
N1.2 trillion for capital projects.

According to Bamidele, the focus of the 2025 budget is the completion of ongoing high-impact projects and the enhancement of services to residents of the FCT.

“While priority has been placed on ongoing projects, a few new but necessary initiatives have also been included,” he noted.

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate praised the budget’s structure and focus on infrastructure.

Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC–Borno) said the emphasis on project completion was commendable while Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC–Kwara) described the 70:30 capital-to-recurrent expenditure ratio as evidence of a balanced and impactful budget.

Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC–Lagos) called it “developmental,” but stressed the need for clarity on funding sources for capital spending.

Senator Victor Umeh (LP–Anambra) applauded the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s efforts in revamping infrastructure but emphasized the need to extend development to surrounding communities to address the rising cost of land in Abuja.

Following deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Committee on FCT for further legislative input, with a directive to report back within one week.

James Itodo, Edited By Grace Namiji