The Nigerian Senate has reminded Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that his achievements in Abuja are only possible because of the National Assembly’s support.
During the 2025 budget presentation by the FCT administration, senators praised the minister’s efforts but also made it clear that the real power lies with the lawmakers. One senator boldly said, “Wike is doing well? No, it is the Senate that is doing well — without us approving his budget, he cannot do anything.”
This comment, though partly humorous, highlights the important role of the Senate in approving funds for projects in Abuja.
The FCT is proposing a record ₦1.7 trillion budget for 2025 — the highest in its history. Out of this amount, ₦1.3 trillion will come from services and internally generated revenue, while ₦391 billion will be raised through loans and counterpart funding.
What stands out is that 84% of the entire budget will be used for capital projects — roads, hospitals, schools and more — while only a small portion will go to salaries and office running costs. This is unlike many government budgets, where half the money goes into running expenses.
Minister Wike also announced that ₦68 billion is expected from internally generated revenue alone — a huge leap compared to previous years.
While the lawmakers praised Wike for the ambitious plans and transformation of the FCT, they raised concerns about some critical areas — especially security and healthcare.
They questioned a ₦78 billion budget line tied to security and asked why previous efforts, like the abandoned CCTV project, had failed. One senator suggested copying Cairo’s model, where policemen are stationed every 200 meters at night to reduce crime.
“Why are you laughing?” one senator asked Wike during the session. “This is the Senate — don’t joke with us.”
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On healthcare, senators complained that even hospitals close to the presidency lack modern machines like MRI and CT scans. Wike responded that emergency procurement had been approved to fix this before the current budget cycle ends in June.
Another hot topic was the growing number of street beggars and displaced persons in Abuja. Some senators suggested setting up training camps to rehabilitate them. But Wike disagreed, saying most of them are not from the FCT and that Abuja does not have the capacity to manage such programs alone.
“Let’s tell ourselves the truth,” he said. “This is the nation’s capital, not a state. People come from everywhere thinking they can live on the streets. It’s not that easy.”
Wike explained that the FCT administration does not control the police or army. All security decisions must go through the Inspector General, National Security Adviser, and the President.
“You cannot just mount CCTV in a city where the President lives without full national approval,” he said. “We have to work together — it’s not as easy as people think.”
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The Senate asked the minister to develop a work plan for security collaboration with federal agencies and submit it to President Tinubu. They also encouraged him to leave a legacy by building a world-class hospital for Abuja.
In the end, the Senate agreed to pass the budget, but not without reminding Wike: “We’ll continue to support you — but don’t forget, you can’t do anything without us.”
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