From David Onuoja, Abuja
The National Assembly, has approved the 2026 Statutory Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory, with a total expenditure of N2.285tn earmarked for the administration and development of Abuja.
The approval followed the adoption of the harmonised report of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the FCT during plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the report before the Senate, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Austin Akobundu, said the budget was drawn from a projected revenue of N2.385tn.
According to him, N165.7bn was allocated for personnel costs, N378.2bn for overhead expenditure, while N1.741trn was set aside for capital projects.
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Akobundu noted that 76.19 per cent of the total budget would go into capital development, while recurrent expenditure accounted for 23.8 per cent.
He explained that the spending plan was designed to boost infrastructure and improve public service delivery across the nation’s capital.
“The committees met with the minister and other relevant officials of the FCTA and deliberated extensively on the subject matter,” he said.
Lawmakers commended the structure of the budget, describing it as development-driven and balanced.
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, praised the proposal, saying the heavy allocation to capital projects reflected the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s commitment to infrastructural development.
“A budget that you have a total of N2.2tn, and out of this, N1.7tn is going for capital, shows determination to transform the FCT,” Barau said.
Senator Abdul Ningi, also described the budget as well-packaged and responsive to issues earlier raised by lawmakers during oversight activities.
The Senate subsequently passed the appropriation bill through third reading for presidential assent.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers also approved the FCT budget alongside a N1.75tn budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Chairman of the House Committee on the FCT, Mukhtar Betara, said the budget would address personnel obligations, overhead costs and major infrastructure projects within Abuja and surrounding satellite towns.
Meanwhile, the NDDC’s N1.75tn budget includes N47.57bn for personnel costs, N49.93bn for overhead expenses, N22.36bn for internal capital expenditure, and N1.63tn for development projects across the Niger Delta region.
The House said the approval is expected to support intervention projects targeted at tackling underdevelopment, environmental degradation and unemployment in oil-producing communities.
