Wike defends N1.78trn FCT budget, prioritizes 85% for project completion
By Ukpono Ukpong
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday defended the N1.78 trillion statutory budget proposal for the FCT in 2025, affirming that a staggering 85% of the capital component will be devoted to completing ongoing projects.
Wike made the disclosure during a budget defense session with the Senate Committee on FCT at the National Assembly.
“Out of the total FCT 2025 statutory budget of ₦1.78 trillion, ₦1.29 trillion is allocated to capital projects, constituting 72.33% of the budget. Of this, 85% is for ongoing projects,” he stated.
In his presentation, Wike confirmed the figures and stressed that the budget conforms with global best practices.
“This budget framework conforms with the best practice of budgeting in which usually 70% is approved for capital and 30% for recurrent. What we have is more than 70% for capital and less than 30% for recurrent,” Wike said.
The Minister acknowledged the Senate’s support and attributed the administration’s successes to legislative collaboration.
“The performance of the FCT today is as a result of your robust support and cooperation. I will not take it for granted,” he said, using a local proverb: “Monkey they jump, monkey they jump, not because they’re in a tree. If monkey jump when the tree is not close, monkey will break leg.”
Wike revealed that the Presidency had approved a 19-day window for commissioning completed projects across the FCT, including satellite towns.
“For the first time, an administration has really cared for the satellite towns. Whether in Gwagwalada, Kwali, AMAC — the people would appreciate and see what you have done,” he said.
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A highlight of Wike’s presentation was the planned renovation of the International Conference Center.
He criticized the facility’s dilapidated state during the 2023 ECOWAS Parliament inauguration, which embarrassed the nation. “We cannot just be a giant of Africa by mouth. We must showcase it in terms of infrastructure,” he stated.
Clarifying concerns about ongoing projects, Wike explained that most of them were awarded by past administrations.
“90% of the ongoing projects were not awarded by this administration. Government is a continuum. These are public funds. This is not who awarded. This is who finished it.”
Wike outlined that the FCT’s estimated revenues are divided into distributable and non-distributable revenues.
He cited sources such as the China Exim Bank loan, COVID-19 funds, and Sukuk loans as non-distributable revenues, emphasizing that these would be applied only to dedicated projects like the Abuja Light Rail and water supply projects.
The fiscal framework of the 2025 budget includes ₦1.3 trillion in distributable revenue and ₦391 billion in non-distributable revenue, marking an overall increase of ₦115 billion from the revised 2024 budget.
“This increase is to achieve a realistic budget performance in 2025,” Wike said.
Personnel costs for 2025 are pegged at ₦150 billion, slightly up from ₦140 billion in 2024, while overhead costs have been slashed from ₦364 billion to ₦343.7 billion to allow more funding for capital development.
“This shows a decrease of ₦21 billion, aimed at boosting capital project funding,” he explained.
For capital expenditure, Wike said ₦1.2 trillion has been proposed, up from ₦1.1 trillion in 2024. Out of this, ₦919 billion is earmarked for ongoing projects, while ₦250 billion will be drawn from the Kabata loan to finance these completions. The Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) received ₦137 billion for rural infrastructure.
He noted that the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) are the principal engines driving the capital project implementation.
“Out of the ₦919 billion dedicated to ongoing projects, the FCDA alone is allocated ₦801 billion,” he disclosed.
The Minister concluded by reiterating his administration’s commitment to accountability and service delivery.
“We can’t talk about development if we don’t have roads, if the schools are not there, if basic infrastructure is missing. It is important to focus on capital expenditure,” Wike asserted.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, set the tone of the session by emphasizing the constitutional significance of the exercise.
“This meeting is a constitutional requirement in line with powers conferred on the National Assembly on the passage of bills into law,” he said, while urging cooperation from the FCT Administration.
Bomai commended the FCT Administration for its remarkable 85% budget performance in 2024 and applauded efforts to tackle insecurity and improve infrastructure.
