Nigeria’s Federal Government and 35 states have proposed a massive N74 trillion budget for 2025 to alleviate poverty and boost development across the nation. The ambitious plan includes N35.68 trillion for capital projects, while recurrent expenditure is allocated N38.57 trillion.
Big Spenders and Modest Allocations
Lagos State emerged as the top spender with a record-breaking N3 trillion budget, outpacing the combined N2.6 trillion of six Northeast states. Other heavy spenders include Niger (N1.5 trillion), Ogun (N1.05 trillion), Delta (N979.2 billion), and Enugu (N971.8 billion).
In contrast, Gombe, Yobe, Ekiti, Nasarawa, and Ebonyi proposed the lowest budgets, each below N400 billion. The Northeast recorded the least regional allocation at N2.6 trillion, while the Southwest led with N6.2 trillion.
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However, Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are yet to announce their budgets
Federal Breakdown
The Federal Government plans to spend N49.74 trillion, allocating N30.45 trillion for recurrent expenses and N19.29 trillion for capital projects. Debt servicing dominates the recurrent allocation at N16.33 trillion, with N14.12 trillion for other expenses.
Capital projects, valued at N14.85 trillion, aim to drive infrastructure growth, alongside N4.44 trillion in statutory transfers. “This funding is critical for Nigeria’s future,” a budget analyst said.
Capital vs. Recurrent Expenditure
While most states prioritized capital projects, Ekiti and Osun allocated more funds to recurrent expenses. Ekiti’s N375.79 billion budget reserves N192.33 billion for recurrent spending, while Osun plans to use N245.8 billion of its N390.03 billion budget for similar expenses.
The budget proposals are pending legislative approval and could increase through supplementary allocations. As 2025 approaches, stakeholders hope the ambitious spending will translate into real benefits for Nigerians.