Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given details of how he was going to spend the proposed N1.78 trillion 2025 statutory budget before the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on the FCT at the National Assembly.
In separate presentations, the Minister said that a significant 72.30 per cent of the total proposed budget, amounting to N1,289,690,124,776, is earmarked for capital expenditure while the remaining 27.70 percent, totaling N494,133,583,616 will be for recurrent expenditure.
A detailed overview of the capital budget estimates revealed key allocations of N80 billion for SUKUK loan projects, N25 billion for the Abuja Light Rail project, N15 billion for Abuja Greater Water Supply, and N250 billion from commercial loans to complete ongoing capital projects in the FCC and satellite towns. The remaining N919,690,124,776 was dedicated to the completion of ongoing capital projects and counterpart-funded initiatives aimed at boosting socio-economic activities across the capital territory.
Further breakdown of the capital expenditure showed that N801.5 billion was allocated to the FCDA, N137 billion to the STDD, and N351.2 billion to other Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) for their capital expenditures and select new projects.
Wike emphasized that the capital budget prioritizes the completion of critical ongoing infrastructure projects. These include the completion of roads B6 and B12, full scope development of Arterial Road N20, provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape, Wuye, and Maitama II Districts, extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), and full scope development of FCT Highway 105 (Kuje Road).
Other vital projects are the construction of Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring Road III, full scope development of Arterial Road N20 from Arterial Road N5, rehabilitation of Old Keffi Road, full scope development of Arterial Road N1, and provision of access roads to Bus Terminals.
Yhe upgrading of Ushafa War College/Army Check Point Road, the construction of Pai-Gomani Road, and dualization of Kuje-Gwagwalada road are also included.
On recurrent expenditure, N150,353,906,168 (8.43 percent of the total) was proposed for personnel costs, while overhead cost was allocated N343,779,448 (19.27 percent).
Sectoral highlights of the budget proposal showed that infrastructural sector (Roads, Districts Development and Public Buildings) was allocated the sum of N383.5 billion, Transportation sector has a provision of the sum of N79.3 billion, education sector has a budgetary proposal of N181 billion while the health sector has a proposed sum of N54 billion in the year 2025.
Other sector, such as environment, was allocated the sum of N22.9 billion while Water sector got the sum of N37.4 billion, agriculture got the sum of N8.3 billion, social development sector got the sum of N23.7 billion, legal services got N7.7 billion, land administration got N1.5 billion while Area Councils Services Secretariat was allocated the sum of N3.1 billion.
The Minister outlined the 2025 revenue fiscal framework, comprising distributable revenue of N1,392,573,937,087 and non-distributable revenue of N391,249,771,305. Revenue sources include proceeds from the 1 per cent of the 52.68 percent statutory allocation of the Federal Government from the Federation Account, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and other sources as detailed in the Revenue Fiscal Framework.
Wike reiterated the Administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects, many of which were initiated by previous administrations.
He expressed his determination to see the projects to conclusion.
The Minister acknowledged and commended the consistent support of the National Assembly to the FCT Administration, specifically praising the swift consideration of the 2025 statutory budget proposal.
“It’s not been long that Mr. President sent this to you and expeditiously, you’ve done the first and second reading and now we are in Committee stage.
“It has never happened. Since your inception, you have always given us that support. We have never suffered any delay in budget passage. We want to say that we will not take this for granted. We will continue to cooperate with you for the development of the FCT.”
He drew the attention of the lawmakers to the upcoming inauguration of completed infrastructure projects in the city center and satellite towns, adding that the inaugurations are scheduled to take place over 19 days, commencing on June 10, 2025, to commemorate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
The Minister used the occasion to extend an invitation to the lawmakers to attend the significant events.
This came even as Chairmen of the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on the FCT, Aliyu Betara and Senator Ibrahim Bomai respectively commended the Minister over the 85 percent implementation of the 2024 statutory budget. They pledged the continued support of the National Assembly for the FCT Administration.
