Breaking: Tinubu Shocks Senate With ₦1.783 Trillion FCT Appropriation Bill Submission

In his letter to the Senate, the President urged for swift consideration of the bill, stressing that its quick passage was essential for delivering an efficient and service-oriented administration to FCT residents.

In response to the President’s request, the Senate invoked Order 78 to allow the bill to undergo its second reading on the same day it was introduced. However, the expedited process sparked debate, with Senator Abdul Ningi, an opposition lawmaker, raising concerns about procedural irregularities, pointing out that lawmakers had not received copies of the bill before the debate, as per Order 77 (3 and 4).

Despite these concerns, the Senate moved forward with deliberations on the general principles of the FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill for the 2025 financial year. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele led the debate, explaining that the bill seeks approval to withdraw ₦1,783,823,708,392 from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund to cover personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures for the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from January 1 to December 31.

The proposed budget is split into three main areas: ₦150.35 billion for personnel costs, ₦343.78 billion for overheads, and ₦1.29 trillion earmarked for capital projects. Bamidele emphasized that the budget’s main goal is to ensure a service-driven and effective administration, with a focus on completing ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja while introducing new initiatives vital for the territory’s growth.