The Senate on Wednesday took a major step toward boosting development in the Federal Capital Territory as it passed the ₦1.783 trillion statutory budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year through second reading.
According to The PUNCH, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier submitted the proposal to the Senate, urging lawmakers to prioritize its swift passage in line with Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision empowers the President to present the FCT budget directly to the National Assembly.
Reading the President’s communication on the floor of the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio quoted Tinubu as saying, “This budget will catalyze development across critical sectors like health, agriculture, social welfare, and job creation. I urge the National Assembly to give it the urgent attention it deserves.”
President Tinubu explained that 85 percent of the total budget will go towards completing ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT, while the remaining 15 percent is earmarked for new developmental initiatives.
Presenting the general principles of the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), said the appropriation bill authorizes the disbursement of ₦1.783 trillion from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund for personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures from January to December 2025.
“The core objective of this budget is to deliver a service-driven administration focused on accelerating the completion of existing infrastructure and public services,” Bamidele told fellow lawmakers.
A breakdown of the proposed budget shows ₦150.35 billion allocated for personnel costs, ₦343.78 billion for overhead, and a substantial ₦1.29 trillion for capital projects.
However, the bill’s speedy progression did not go unchallenged. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised procedural concerns, pointing out that the proposed budget document was not distributed to lawmakers before deliberation, contrary to Senate Order 77 (3 and 4).
Despite the objection, the chamber granted Bamidele’s motion to suspend Order 78(1), allowing the second reading to proceed on the same day as its first presentation.
After the debate, the Senate referred the bill to its Committees on FCT, Area Councils, and Allied Matters for further scrutiny, with a report expected within a week.
Bamidele added, “While our focus remains on completing vital ongoing projects, this budget also introduces innovative programs to meet the evolving needs of FCT residents and support the territory’s long-term growth.”