*Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio announces the passage of the 2025 Budget after most members of the Upper Legislative Chamber, in the National Assembly, in Abuja, have supported it through voice votes, following their review of a report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to a review of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senators Thursday, February 12, 2025, passed the country’s historic total N54.99 trillion Appropriation Bill.

绿帽献妻 reports Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of the 2025 Budget after most members of the Upper Legislative Chamber, in the National Assembly (NASS), in Abuja, FCT, had supported it through voice votes.

The Senators also supported passage of the Appropriation Bill following their review of a report presented by Senator Adeola Olamilekan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Presenting the report tomhis colleagues Thursday, Olamilekan also noted the Committee recommended that N3.6 trillion be approved for Statutory Transfers, N14.3 trillion for Debt service, N23.9 trillion for Capital expenditure, and N13.8 trillion for Fiscal Deficit.

It is recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, recently requested the NASS for an upward budget revision by N4.5 trillion.

Tinubu had increased the budget estimate from its initial proposal of N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion.

The Nigerian leader, in a letter, communicating the development to the National Assembly, had also explained that the increment was necessary due to additional revenue in trillions of Naira from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other revenue-generating agencies 2024.

Details of Senate’s N4.5 trillion addition is allotted

Senate Olamilekan said President Tinubu’s N5.4 trillion additional request for the increased 2025 Budget was approved in order to address critical challenges and advance government developments in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations further explained that N5 trillion was approved for infrastructural projects, including irrigation development through River Basin Development Authorities, which specifically gulped N380 billion.

Besides, he noted N300 billion was approved for the construction and rehabilitation of critical roads while N400 billion was allocated for light rail networks in urban centres.

Border communities also got N50 billion from the share. Military and barracks got N250 billion, and N120 billion was appropriated for military aviation.

On health intervention

Olamilekan as well revealed the 2025 Budget made a new provision of $200 million, which is equivalent to N300 billion, to fill the gap created by the United States (US) Government鈥檚 suspension of intervention in the Nigerian health sector to proactively address the health challenges currently being experienced by some countries.

Similarly, the Senate also allocated additional funds to some agencies, namely the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), National Judicial Council (NJC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).