President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday transmitted the 2026 statutory budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to the Senate for consideration and approval.

The letter conveying the budget proposal was read on the Senate floor on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary after lawmakers resumed from a three-week recess held to allow committees to carry out 2026 budget scrutiny sessions.

Under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, the National Assembly exercises legislative authority over the Federal Capital Territory, making the approval of the FCT budget a responsibility of the federal legislature.

Last year, the President submitted a similar request seeking the upper chamber’s approval for the FCTA’s 2025 Appropriation Bill, which totalled N1.7 trillion.

In the letter read on the Senate floor, the President explained the constitutional basis for presenting the proposal to lawmakers, saying, “Pursuant to section 299 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which vests legislative powers over the Federal Capital Territory on the National Assembly, I hereby present the 2025 FCT budget proposal to the Senate for consideration.

“The 2025 FCT budget proposal prioritises investment in health care services, job creation, youth empowerment, social welfare services, education infrastructure as well as increasing productivity in agriculture.”

The President further noted that the proposed spending plan is designed to stimulate socio-economic development within the capital territory and improve the welfare of residents.

According to him, the budget is designed to lift as many citizens as possible out of poverty. (The Nation)