JUST IN: Abuja Set For Transformation As Senate Passes ₦1.81 Trillion FCT Budget

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday approved the 2025 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Statutory Appropriation Bill, authorizing a total expenditure of approximately ₦1.81 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. This approval followed the bill’s third reading.

The passage came after Senator Mohammed Ibrahim presented the joint committee report, which harmonized inputs from both chambers of the National Assembly in accordance with Sections 62, 80, 88, 89, and 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the report, the statutory budget will be funded through projected revenue for the year. The breakdown of the budget includes:

• Personnel Costs: ₦150.35 billion (8.29%)

• Overhead Costs: ₦352.03 billion (19.41%)

• Capital Expenditure: ₦1.31 trillion (72.31%)

The total recurrent expenditure—which combines personnel and overhead costs—amounts to ₦502.38 billion, while capital projects are allocated the majority share.

The committee noted that the budget formulation involved extensive consultations with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and other senior officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The approved spending plan is expected to drive infrastructure development, improve service delivery, and address the growing needs of residents in Abuja and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, has demanded clarification over an alleged ₦6.93 trillion insertion into the 2025 national budget.

According to a report by civic watchdog BudgIT Nigeria, the 10th National Assembly reportedly inserted 11,122 projects into the budget, with limited transparency or justification. Their analysis revealed:

• 238 projects exceeding ₦5 billion each, totaling ₦2 trillion

• 984 projects worth ₦1.71 trillion

• 1,119 projects ranging from ₦500 million to ₦1 billion, totaling ₦641.38 billion

Additionally, BudgIT found that 3,573 projects worth ₦653.19 billion were assigned to federal constituencies, while 1,972 projects valued at ₦444.04 billion were linked to senatorial districts.

Reacting to the revelations, Baba-Ahmed urged the National Assembly and the Presidency to provide answers to the Nigerian public. He also suggested that the federal government should sue BudgIT if the report was deemed to be false.