By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday passed the 2026 Federal Capital Territory statutory appropriation bill totaling N2.285 trillion following its presentation by Senator Austine Akobundu, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT.
The bill, earlier submitted by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, was read for the first time and debated for second reading on 11 March 2026 before being referred to the joint Senate and House Committees on the FCT and Area Councils for legislative review.
Akobundu said the committees engaged with the minister and officials of the FCT Administration and agreed on recommendations for both chambers to consider.
The approved budget is based on projected revenue of N2.285 trillion, with N160.78 billion, representing 7.25 percent, allocated to personnel costs and N378.23 billion, or 16.55 percent, for overhead expenditure.
Capital projects received the largest share at N1.741 trillion, accounting for 76.19 percent of the total budget, to fund infrastructure and services across Abuja for the year ending 31 December 2026.
Akobundu noted that the joint committees worked harmoniously to present a unified report for passage into law, stressing that timely approval was critical for the FCT’s development agenda.
Senator Abdul Ningi welcomed the budget’s focus on security, recalling that N10 billion was set aside for FCT security last year and that the current proposal signals a forward-looking approach to protecting residents and institutions.
Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin praised the budget structure, saying the high capital allocation demonstrates a clear commitment to transforming Abuja into a world-class city and strengthening Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He commended the minister for his determination to build the capital to global standards, adding that the FCT remains one of the visible symbols of the nation.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro also backed the budget, citing visible improvements in road reconstruction, street lighting, and security measures that are helping to curb crime within the city.
Senator Adetokunbo Abiru described the sectoral distribution across security, engineering services, education and satellite towns as commendable, but urged the FCT to present its revenue profile for transparency and accountability.
Senators Mohammed Monguno and Sani Musa echoed the call, insisting that a budget without an accompanying revenue profile is incomplete.
