IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to authorize the issuance of a total sum of N1.78 trillion from the Statutory Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the 2025 fiscal year.
The bill, presented by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, outlines a comprehensive expenditure plan for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering personnel, overhead, and capital project costs. Of the total N1,783,823,708,392.00, the following allocations have been proposed:
N150,353,906,168.00 for Personnel Costs,
N343,779,677,448.00 for Overhead Costs, and
N1,289,690,124,776.00 for Capital Projects.
The proposed capital expenditure, which constitutes over 70% of the total budget, is expected to significantly boost infrastructure development and public services across Abuja, the nation’s capital. The bill covers the fiscal year beginning 1 January and ending 31 December, 2025.
While presenting the bill, Hon. Ihonvbere emphasized the need for timely approval and implementation to ensure the smooth running of government operations and developmental projects in the FCT.
Private Intelligence Bill Scales Second Reading
In a related legislative move, the House also passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Satomi (Borno State), aims to introduce a formal regulatory framework for private intelligence and investigation firms operating in the country.
Hon. Satomi explained that the bill is designed to promote professionalism, ethical conduct, and accountability in the private security and investigation sector, which has grown significantly in recent years amid rising security concerns.
He noted that the council, once established, would serve as a licensing and regulatory body, helping to protect citizens and ensure that private firms operate within the confines of the law.
Call for Hypertension Policy Support
Meanwhile, the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance has urged the National Assembly to prioritize funding and policy development for the prevention and management of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases across the country.
During an advocacy visit to the House, a delegation of healthcare professionals, led by Prof. Dike Orji, appealed to lawmakers to integrate hypertension screening, diagnosis, and treatment into Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres. They also called for a dedicated budget line for hypertension and related NCDs in the national health budget.
Prof. Orji highlighted the growing burden of hypertension in Nigeria and stressed the importance of early intervention and sustainable funding to prevent long-term complications and reduce mortality rates.
The advocacy visit reflects growing concern over the nation’s healthcare priorities and calls for more legislative action to address silent but deadly conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
The House is expected to continue deliberations on the FCT budget and other related bills in the coming weeks.
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