The House of Representatives has approved a combined N4.04 trillion budget for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the 2026 fiscal year, with lawmakers underscoring the urgency of infrastructure delivery and strict accountability.
The approvals, granted during Thursday’s plenary, followed the adoption of reports presented by the respective House committees overseeing the two agencies.
A breakdown of the FCT’s N2.29 trillion budget shows a strong tilt toward capital expenditure, reflecting the administration’s focus on infrastructure expansion in Abuja and its satellite towns.
Chairman of the House Committee on the FCT, Muktar Betara, said N165.78 billion was allocated for personnel costs, while N378.23 billion was set aside for overheads. The bulk of the budget—N1.74 trillion—was earmarked for capital projects.
Further details indicate that the FCTA’s core operations will receive N151.44 billion, while N6.79 billion was approved for security services to strengthen surveillance and safety across the capital.
Religious pilgrimage boards also received allocations, with N1.51 billion approved for the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and N910.20 million for its Christian counterpart.
Sectoral allocations reveal a heavy investment in infrastructure, with engineering services receiving the largest share at N758.15 billion. Education projects were allocated N162 billion, while N212.74 billion was set aside for satellite town development. Resettlement and compensation will take N143.18 billion, and N2.38 billion was approved for public buildings.
Lawmakers described the capital-heavy structure as essential to closing Abuja’s infrastructure deficit, particularly in rapidly expanding suburban communities.
In parallel, the House approved the N1.75 trillion 2026 budget for the NDDC, with a similar emphasis on development spending across oil-producing regions.
Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, said N47.57 billion was approved for personnel costs and N49.93 billion for overheads. Internal capital expenditure stands at N22.36 billion, while a substantial N1.63 trillion—representing the bulk of the budget—was allocated to development projects.
The legislature said the funding is expected to drive critical interventions in roads, healthcare, electricity, shoreline protection, and youth empowerment across the nine Niger Delta states.
Despite approving the budgets, lawmakers stressed that funding alone would not address longstanding development challenges without transparency and effective implementation.
They called on both the FCTA and NDDC to ensure strict compliance with budgetary provisions and deliver measurable outcomes that justify the scale of public spending.
The approvals come amid rising public expectations for improved infrastructure, enhanced security, and better social services in both the nation’s capital and the Niger Delta region, where years of underdevelopment have persisted despite significant allocations.
