The senate yesterday passed for second reading the N1.7 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This was sequel to the reading of a letter from President Bola Tinubu seeking the consideration and approval of the proposed money bill.
The letter was read on the floor of the red chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved for the first and second readings of the bill on the same legislative day, urging the senate to fast-track its passage.
Leading the debate, Bamidele explained that the bill was for the services of the FCT for the financial year starting January 1 and ending December 31, 2025.
Bamidele said the FCT Appropriation Bill sought to authorise the issuance of N1,783,823,708,392.00 from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund.
He said N150,353,906,168.00 was allocated for personnel cost; N343,779,677,448.00 for overheads; while the remaining N1,289,690,124,776.00 was earmarked for capital projects.
The senate leader said the budget was designed to ensure the completion of ongoing projects that directly impacted infrastructure and the wellbeing of FCT residents.
He added, “A few new projects, which were deemed necessary, were also included in the budget.”
During the debate on the general principles of the bill, at the Committee of Supply, several senators commended the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, for his efforts in improving the capital territory.
The senator for Lagos West, Idiat Adebule, highlighted the focus on education in the budget.
Adebule said, “Educate a child, educate a nation.”
She expressed optimism that the impact of such investment would soon be felt across the society.
Senator Abdul Ningi remarked that under the current administration, “Abuja is beginning to look like an urban city of 21st-century Africa.”
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