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Wike Presents N1.7trn 2025 Budget to NASS

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday presented N1.7 trillion as the total FCT 2025 statutory budget to the National Assembly.The FCT Minister presented the budget on behalf of President Bola Tinubu to the House committee on FCT in Abuja.
He said the sum of 1,289,690,124,776 Naira is for capital projects, which constitutes 72. 33% of the budget. He said FCT Administration is indeed grateful for the understanding and magnanimity of the Honourable Committee in considering the FCT 2025 Statutory BudgetHe reminded the committee that FCT Statutory Budget is funded from proceeds of the 1% of the 52.68% Statutory Allocation of the Federal Government from the Federation Account, InternallyGenerated Revenue (GR) and the other sources as contained in the Revenue Fiscal Framework.He noted that the 2025 budget is accordingly prepared within the context of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The Budget also took into consideration the Federal Government’s assumptions for 2025.The Budget proposal also has taken into cognizance the estimated revenue accruing to the FCT through the Federation Account and recognizes other in-house efforts to bo0st revenue generation capabilities in FCT. The focus of the capital budget is mainly on completion of on-going projects that have a high impact on service delivery.He said, “Accordingly, a fiscal framework of the sum of N1,783,823,708,392.00 comprising Distributable Revenue of N1,392,573,937,087.00 and Non-Distributable Revenue of N391,249,771,305.00 has been proposed for the FCT 2025 Statutory Budget after due deliberations with all the Revenue Generating Agencies of the FCTA, taking into consideration the parameters highlighted in paragraph 5 above.”When compared 2025 Budget proposal of the sum of N1,783,823,708,392.00 with the Revised 2024 Appropriation of the sum of N1,668,770,61 0,283.00, there is an increase of the sum of N115,053, 098,108.76 (7%) in the 2025 statutory budget proposal.This increase is to achieve a realistic budget performance in 2025 having considered the remarkable improvement in the revenue generated in 2024 fiscal year”.The chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Hon. Aliyu Betara earlier commended the FCT Minister for tackling the current waves of insecurity in FCT, being able to deliver its mandate effectively.He said, “We have noted with satisfaction the completion of various projects and new ones embarked by the FCT administration. Out of the total FCT 2025 statutory budget of 1,783,823,708,392 Naira, the sum of 1,289,690,124,776 Naira is for capital projects, which constitutes 72.33% of the budget.”It is important to note that out of the total capital proposal of the sum of 1,889,014,910,776 Naira is for ongoing projects, and this constitutes 85% of the capital project. In effect, what I’m saying is, out of the total amount earmarked for capital for 2025, the FCT is using or utilizing or proposing to use 85% of that amount for completion of ongoing projects. The sum of 200,775,212,000 is just for new projects”.The Minister had earlier presented the same 2025 budget to the Senate Committee on FCT.The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is Senator Ibrahim Bomai, who said FCT is presenting one of the best budgets so far.”And before I allow the floor for questions, I would also like to note that the IGR proposed by FCT has greatly improved. The FCT is proposing 608 billion just IGR.”So this is something to commend the Honorable Minister of State and his staff for doing a wonderful job”, he said.COVER
UBA Raises N157bn Via Rights Issue to Boost Capital Base

United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced plans to raise N157 billion through a rights issue.The disclosure was made via a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX).It said in a statement on Thursday that its stock brokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., had submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.
to that effect. It added its stock brokers had requested for approval and listing of a Rights Issue of 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N50. 00 per share“Trading License Holders are hereby notified that United Bank for Africa Plc, through its Stockbrokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., has submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.” in that regard.“The rights issue will be on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 13 ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.“The qualification date for the Rights Issue is July 16, 2025,” the bank noted.The move is part of UBA’s strategy to strengthen its capital base and support its expansion and growth objectives across Africa.(NAN)COVER
Benue Uncovers Over 4000 Substandard Schools

From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Over 4000 substandard and illegal schools have been uncovered and ready to be shut down across the state.The chief press secretary to the Benue State Governor, Tersoo Kula disclosed this at a press conference in Makurdi.Kula was reacting to a statement credited to former commissioner for education and knowledge management, Prof.
Dennis Ityavyar, said that Governor Alia has stabilised the educational sector since coming on board two years ago. ”No more strikes. Schools are moving on smoothly and in a bid to bring teaching and learning closer to the people and address the problem of younger school leavers in securing admission into tertiary institutions, the governor has established a new university.”The establishment of University of Agriculture Science and Technology Ihugh, Vandeikyaa LGA is real..The governor has secured the licence, acquired land and made appointments of principal officers.”This is to address the issue of providing admission for the teeming Benue indigenes seeking admission into Nigerian universities.”The Governor has employed over 9700 teachers to energize public primary schools in the state. Apart from the fact that our primary schools would be energized, 9700 youths have been taken off the streets.”The government of governor Alia has also paid the 38 months earned allowance owed to lecturers at the Moses Adasu University, formerly Benue State University Makurdi”, he said.He maintained that renovation of government secondary schools and colleges across the state are ongoing where ongoing construction of new structures is in some public primary and secondary schools to ensure conducive learning environment.”Public primary schools teachers are trained on ITCs to enhance the teaching and learning of information and technology innovations at elementary level.”This government has been able to identify over 4000 substandard schools in the state and have secured insurance cover for Benue State students and paid bursary allowances in law school students in the state”, Kula stated.Benue Moves to Domesticate National Policy on IDPsThe Benue State Government has commenced a validation process to domesticate the newly federal government policy on Internally Displaced Persons (PDP) in the State.Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management in the State, Aondowase Kunde, stated that upon stakeholders’ inputs into the Internally Displaced Persons policy document, it would be fully launched.He added that the aim is to improve the welfare of the displaced population in the state.Kunde stated this during a two policy validation meeting held at Benue Hotels Makurdi yesterday.He maintained that the document which was passed into law by the national assembly needed to be domesticated in the state in line with the peculiarities of the state.In his remarks, the chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Benue State House of assembly, James Abu Umoro, noted that the state has suffered so many natural and man-made disasters that it requires the policy to be domesticated in the state.Umoru insisted that the house will not hesitate to pass the document into law when presented by the executive arm of government.He said the issue of IDP in the state is a concern for everyone and must be given accelerated consideration at any point in time.On his part, House committee chairman on SDG and Donor Agencies, Peter Uche, noted that in most cases, communities have suffered attacks for more than ten years.”Let me therefore, call on all to support the implementation of the policy document for the displaced to return to their ancestral homes to start their normal farming and business activities”, he stated.The Director General, Sustainable Development Goals, John Akuse, who spoke at the occasion, said the validation of the IDP policy document is vital in paving the way for the displaced population to be adequately taken care of regarding their peculiar needs.COVER
Tinubu Honours Buhari, Renames University of Maiduguri after Late President

By David Torough, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University.
“May we now adopt the University of Maduguri as the Muhammadu Buhari University,” Tinubu said at the close of a special session of the Federal Executive Council held to honour Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The President paid a glowing tribute to Buhari, describing him as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man” whose legacy of discipline, patriotism and moral uprightness would endure for generations.
Tinubu said although the late president was not without flaws, his unwavering commitment to national service set him apart.
“President Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man.
“His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.
“His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” he said.
Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office and his long military and civil service, Tinubu praised the late leader’s simplicity, humility, and stoic resistance to the trappings of power.
He said, “He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular.
“His was a quiet courage, a righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism lived more in action than in words.”
Tinubu also recounted their political alliance, which culminated in the historic 2015 elections that marked Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint,” he said.
The President expressed admiration for Buhari’s post-office modesty, noting that he returned to his hometown, Daura, without seeking to wield influence behind the scenes.
“When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court, but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.
“Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life: not a sigh, not a groan, just a quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns,” he added.
Tinubu thanked the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, for organising a befitting state funeral within 48 hours, describing it as a “profound honour” to lead the burial procession in Daura.
He concluded his tribute with a prayer: “Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the Farmer President, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness. President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.”
Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82.