The National Assembly has made changes to the 2025 budget, shifting funds from capital expenditure to recurrent spending. The adjustments, made on Tuesday, were necessary due to errors in the previously approved budget.
Despite these changes, the total budget size remains at N54.99 trillion, with over N500 billion moved from capital projects to cover recurrent expenses. Lawmakers reviewed and corrected figures for various ministries, departments, and agencies, affecting their budget allocations. Some received additional funding, while others saw reductions.
During the plenary session, Francis Waive (APC, Delta), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, presented the motion for review, stating that the Joint Appropriation Committee identified mistakes in the figures.
He explained that while key financial components like statutory transfers (N3.64 trillion) and debt-related expenditures (N14.32 trillion) remained the same, adjustments were made to the recurrent (non-debt) expenditure (N13.56 trillion) and capital budget (N23.44 trillion).
Among those affected by budget cuts were the Ministries of Defence and Police Affairs, as well as agencies handling pensions, including the National Pension Commission, Universities Pensions, Office of the Head of Civil Service (civilian pensions), and the Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate.
Meanwhile, several government offices and ministries received increased allocations. These include the Presidency, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Other ministries benefiting from the adjustments include Agriculture and Food Security, Works, Labour and Employment, Transportation, Innovation, Science and Technology, Education, Environment, Health, and Social Welfare.
Waive noted that it was the duty of the House to make necessary corrections to the budget, ensuring that figures were accurate before final approval. He also confirmed that the overall budget size of N54.99 trillion remains unchanged, despite the adjustments.
