The Senate has passed for a second reading President Bola Tinubu’s ₦1.783 trillion Statutory Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the 2025 fiscal year.
President Tinubu formally presented the 2025 FCT budget proposal via a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging lawmakers to expedite its passage to facilitate the execution of critical development projects in the nation’s capital.
Reading the letter at plenary on Wednesday in Abuja, Akpabio noted that the presentation was in line with Section 299 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to submit the FCT budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
Tinubu stated that the budget was designed to boost key sectors, including health, social welfare, agriculture, and employment, while driving a service-oriented administration for residents of the FCT.
“The passage of the budget would facilitate investment in health and social welfare, increase agricultural production, and improve job creation,” the President noted.
The President disclosed that 85 per cent of the total allocations would go toward completing ongoing infrastructure and development projects, with 15 per cent earmarked for new initiatives.
“I urge the National Assembly to give this budget the urgent attention it deserves in the interest of accelerating development within the FCT,” the President added in his letter.
Immediately after the President’s letter was read, the Money Bill went through its first reading and was subsequently presented for second reading during the same sitting on Wednesday.
To fast-track the process, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved for the suspension of Senate Standing Order 78(1), which mandates that bills be read on three separate days unless unanimously waived. The motion was adopted.
However, the move faced resistance from Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), who raised a point of order citing Order 77 (3 and 4) of the Senate rules. He argued that Senators had not received printed copies of the Bill before the debate began.
Despite the concerns, Senate President Akpabio ruled that the point of order was sustained but noted that copies of the bill were being distributed. The debate on the general principles of the bill continued.
Leading the debate, Senator Bamidele explained that the bill sought to authorise the issuance of ₦1.783 trillion from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund to cover expenditures from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The breakdown of the budget includes: “₦150.35 billion for Personnel Costs. “₦343.78 billion for Overhead Costs. “₦1.29 trillion for Capital Projects.”
Bamidele noted that the thrust of the budget was to ensure a “service-oriented and effective administration,” with emphasis on completing ongoing projects that are vital to infrastructure and service delivery.
While the budget focuses primarily on continuation, he added that a few strategic new projects had been included to meet emerging needs.
Several senators spoke in support of the Bill, commending its capital-intensive structure and development-focused outlook.
Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) described it as a departure from the trend of abandoning projects midstream, calling it “a wise and commendable shift” in Nigeria’s budgeting approach.
Senator Ashiru Yisa (APC, Kwara South) noted that nearly 70 per cent of the proposed budget was devoted to capital expenditure, reflecting a strong commitment to infrastructure growth. He described the appropriation bill as “a balanced and responsive budget.”
Senator Peter Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) also endorsed the bill, praising the infrastructural transformation currently underway in the FCT under Minister Nyesom Wike.
He called for more attention to be given to areas around the Abuja airport, which he described as visually unappealing to visitors arriving in the capital.
His comments triggered a spirited exchange in the chamber, with Senate President Akpabio cautioning against misrepresenting existing development or advocating displacement.
“The structures you refer to are homes to citizens who live within their means,” Akpabio said. “National image should not come at the cost of displacing communities.”
Following the debates, the bill was referred to the Senate Committees on FCT, Area Councils, and Allied Matters for further legislative action, with a report expected at plenary within one week.