President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a ₦1.78 trillion budget proposal for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the Senate, requesting prompt legislative action ahead of the 2025 fiscal year.
In a letter read on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Tinubu called for swift passage of the appropriation bill to facilitate efficient governance and improved service delivery in the FCT.
READ ALSO: Tinubu urges African youth to lead continent’s progress
Acting on the president’s request, the Senate invoked Order 78 to allow the bill to progress to a second reading on the same day it was introduced.
However, the fast-tracked process drew objections from Senator Abdul Ningi of the opposition, who cited Order 77 (3 and 4), arguing that lawmakers had not received the bill’s documentation before the debate.
Despite the procedural concerns, the Senate proceeded to deliberate on the general principles of the FCT statutory budget for the coming year.
Leading the discussion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the budget aims to draw ₦1.78 trillion from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund to cover expenditures from January to December 2025.
According to Bamidele, the spending plan allocates ₦150.35 billion to personnel, ₦343.78 billion to overheads, and ₦1.29 trillion to capital development.
He noted that the capital allocation is geared towards completing critical infrastructure projects and sustaining essential public services in Abuja.
READ ALSO: Lamido urges Tinubu to compensate Abiola’s family over annulled 1993 election
The proposed budget, he added, focuses on finishing ongoing projects while launching new ones considered vital to the FCT’s growth and service delivery goals.
