FCT Gets N2.285tn Budget As Senate Backs Infrastructure Push

Nigeria’s Senate has passed the 2026 Statutory Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory, green-lighting a total expenditure of N2.285 trillion for the administration and development of Abuja and its satellite communities.

The bill scaled through third reading during a Thursday plenary session, following the presentation of a harmonised report from the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the FCT. The report was presented by Senator Austin Akobundu of Abia Central, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, who stood in for committee chairman Senator Ibrahim Bomai of Yobe South.

Akobundu told the chamber that the joint committees recommended the N2.285 trillion spending plan against a projected revenue of N2.385 trillion. Of the total sum, N165.7 billion was allocated to personnel costs, N378.2 billion to overhead expenses, while a dominant N1.741 trillion was reserved for capital expenditure.

The capital allocation represents 76.19 per cent of the entire budget, with recurrent expenditure accounting for the remaining 23.8 per cent. Akobundu noted that the structure reflected a deliberate policy orientation toward infrastructure delivery and public service improvement.

He further disclosed that the appropriation process was conducted in full compliance with constitutional requirements, having emerged from extensive consultations between the National Assembly committees and senior officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. “The committees met with the minister and other relevant officials of the FCTA and deliberated extensively on the subject matter,” he stated.

Senate Deputy President Jibrin Barau offered some of the session’s most spirited endorsement of the bill, drawing on his own legislative experience to vouch for its quality. “Mr President the budget is top notch. You know, I am the only one in the history of the legislature in this country that had the opportunity to serve as chairman appropriation committee in the House and in the Senate. So when I see a good budget, I know it’s a good budget. It is a budget that is top notch. We have to commend the FCT minister for doing a very very good job. A budget that you have a total of N2.2tn and out of this, N1.7tn is going for capital. It shows his willingness and determination to continue to show FCT to the admiration of all,” Barau said.

Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central also weighed in, describing the document as well structured and responsive to earlier observations raised during the Senate committee’s oversight activities. Ningi stated that the budget was well packaged and well balanced, considering the observations made by the Senate Committee on the FCT the previous year.

The passage arrives against a backdrop of mounting pressure to address infrastructure deficits, healthcare gaps, transportation bottlenecks, and security concerns across Abuja and its rapidly expanding satellite towns.

The bill will now be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent before it takes legal effect.