The Federal Capital Territory (FCT)’s N1.783 trillion statutory appropriation bill for 2025 on Wednesday scaled second reading in the Senate.
This was sequel to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The president in the letter requested the Senate to consider and approve the FCT 2025 Appropriation Bill.
Tinubu explained in the letter that the objective of the 2025 FCT statutory budget was for job creation, youth empowerment, social welfare services, infrastructure, as well as increasing productivity in agriculture.
“Our objective is to lift as many of our citizens out of poverty as we can,” he added.
Tinubu said the budget presentation complied with Section 299 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers the President to lay the FCT’s budget before the National Assembly.
“The passage of the budget would facilitate investment in health and social welfare, increase agricultural production, and improve job creation,” the president said.
The president said of a total expenditure of N1,783,823,708,292 proposed for the year 2025, 85% is for capital expenditure, which is dedicated to the completion of ongoing projects, while 15% is for new capital projects.
“This is to sustain the ongoing efforts of providing basic infrastructure and social amenities in the capital territory,” Tinubu added.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) had called for the suspension of Senate Standing Order 78(1), allowing the bill to scale second reading on the same day it was introduced.
However, the accelerated process did not go without opposition as Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), raised concerns about the procedure under Order 77 (3 and 4), pointing out that lawmakers had not been provided with copies of the bill prior to the debate.
Despite the concern, the bill scaled second reading and was referred to the Senate Committees on FCT, Area Councils and Auxiliary Matters for further legislative action, with a report expected back at plenary within one week.
The proposed allocation includes: N150.35 billion for personnel costs, N343.78 billion for overhead costs, N1.29 trillion for capital projects.
