By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a total of N4.04tn for the 2026 budgets of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The lawmakers passed N2.29tn for the FCTA and N1.75tn for the NDDC following the consideration and adoption of reports presented during plenary by the relevant House committees.
Presenting the report on the FCT budget, Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Muktar Betara, said the proposal was designed to cater for personnel costs, overhead expenditure and critical infrastructure development across the nation’s capital.
He said, “Out of the N2.29tn, the sum of N165.78bn is for personnel costs while N378.23bn is for overhead costs.
“The balance of N1.74tn is for capital projects for the service of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the financial year commencing January 1 and ending December 31, 2026.”
A breakdown of the recurrent expenditure showed that the FCTA secured N151.44bn for its operations.
In a move aimed at strengthening security across Abuja and neighbouring satellite communities, the House approved N6.79bn for the security services department of the FCTA.
The lawmakers also approved N1.51bn for the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and N910.20m for the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Under the capital expenditure component, the education sector received N162bn, while engineering services got the highest allocation of N758.15bn.
The resettlement and compensation department was allocated N143.18bn, public buildings got N2.38bn, while the satellite towns development department secured N212.74bn.
The House also approved the 2026 budget of the NDDC valued at N1.75tn.
Details of the appropriation showed that N47.57bn was earmarked for personnel costs, while N49.93bn was allocated for overhead expenditure.
The commission also secured N22.36bn for internal capital expenditure, with the bulk of the budget N1.63tn dedicated to development projects across the Niger Delta region.
The approval followed the consideration of a report presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu.
The passage of the two budgets comes amid growing pressure on the Federal Government to improve infrastructure, security and social services in the FCT and the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
The heavy allocation to engineering services in the FCT budget is expected to support road construction, urban renewal and the completion of ongoing projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity within Abuja.
Similarly, the large allocation for resettlement and compensation is expected to address recurring disputes linked to land acquisition, demolitions and relocation of communities affected by public projects.
The increased funding for satellite towns is also seen as part of efforts to bridge infrastructure deficits in suburban communities surrounding Abuja.
For the NDDC, the budget is expected to boost intervention projects in roads, shoreline protection, electricity, healthcare, education and youth empowerment across the nine Niger Delta states.
The approval also comes amid renewed scrutiny over the commission’s finances and project implementation process following years of allegations of abandoned projects, contract irregularities and poor accountability.
Lawmakers have repeatedly urged the commission to ensure transparency and deliver impactful projects capable of improving living conditions in oil-producing communities.
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