The Senate approved the 2026 Statutory Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, setting total expenditure at N2.285 trillion. The passage followed the presentation of a harmonised report by Austin Akobundu, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, on behalf of Committee Chairman Ibrahim Bomai. Akobundu stated that the budget was based on a projected revenue of N2.385 trillion, with N165.7 billion allocated to personnel costs and N378.2 billion to overheads. Capital projects are set to receive N1.741 trillion, making up 76.19 per cent of the total allocation, while recurrent expenditure accounts for 23.8 per cent.
Akobundu confirmed the budget aligns with constitutional requirements after consultations with officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. He noted that the joint Senate and House committees had engaged the FCT minister and other officials during deliberations. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin praised the budget as "top notch," citing the high capital expenditure as evidence of commitment to infrastructural transformation. He referenced his experience as former chairman of the appropriation committee in both chambers to underscore his assessment. Senator Abdul Ningi described the budget as well-packaged and balanced, noting it addressed earlier concerns raised by the Senate committee.
Barau Jibrin's claim of unmatched legislative experience sits uneasily with his role in merely endorsing a budget crafted by the executive. The FCT Minister shaped the budget, yet Jibrin credited him for a document the legislature did not significantly alter. N1.741 trillion in capital spending may reshape Abuja, but residents outside the core city see little guarantee of inclusion. A budget called "top notch" by lawmakers offers no line-item proof of how satellite communities will benefit.
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