Tinubu Sends ₦1.78 Trillion FCT Budget to Senate for Expedited Approval

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a proposed ₦1.783 trillion Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Statutory Appropriation Bill for the 2025 financial year to the Senate, urging lawmakers to give the proposal expedited consideration for the sake of efficient governance in the nation’s capital.

The President’s request was read during plenary on Wednesday, prompting the upper chamber to invoke Order 78 of the Senate Standing Rules, which allows for the second reading of a bill on the same day it is introduced.

However, the fast-tracked process drew objections from opposition senator Abdul Ningi, who cited Order 77 (3 and 4) to express concern that copies of the bill had not been circulated to lawmakers prior to the debate. Despite his reservations, the Senate moved forward with the second reading.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who led debate on the general principles of the bill, explained that the appropriation seeks to authorise the issuance of ₦1,783,823,708,392 from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund for the 2025 fiscal year.

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a proposed ₦1.783 trillion Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Statutory Appropriation Bill for the 2025 financial year to the Senate, urging lawmakers to give the proposal expedited consideration for the sake of efficient governance in the nation’s capital.

The President’s request was read during plenary on Wednesday, prompting the upper chamber to invoke Order 78 of the Senate Standing Rules, which allows for the second reading of a bill on the same day it is introduced.

However, the fast-tracked process drew objections from opposition senator Abdul Ningi, who cited Order 77 (3 and 4) to express concern that copies of the bill had not been circulated to lawmakers prior to the debate. Despite his reservations, the Senate moved forward with the second reading.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who led debate on the general principles of the bill, explained that the appropriation seeks to authorise the issuance of ₦1,783,823,708,392 from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund for the 2025 fiscal year.

According to Bamidele, the fund will cover key areas of governance including ₦150.35 billion for personnel costs, ₦343.78 billion for overhead, and a substantial ₦1.29 trillion for capital projects.

He emphasised that the proposed budget is strategically designed to deepen service delivery, prioritising the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects and launching new initiatives critical to the growth and functionality of Abuja.

Bamidele added that the capital allocation reflects the administration’s commitment to building a service-oriented and efficient public administration, ensuring that residents of the FCT benefit from sustainable development.