The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N47.96 trillion expenditure for the 2025 budget, marking a 36.8% increase from the 2024 estimate.
The decision was made during the Council’s final meeting of 2024, held on Monday in the Council Chambers of the States House, Abuja.
Speaking to State House Correspondents, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed that the 2025 framework is based on key economic projections, including an oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel, daily oil production of 2.06 million barrels, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar.
The proposed revenue for 2025 stands at N34.82 trillion, leaving a projected deficit of N13.13 trillion, which is 3.89% of the GDP.
Bagudu explained that the budget, presented by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, incorporates amendments directed by President Bola Tinubu.
“Today, the Federal Executive Council approved the budget proposals for 2025 with amendments which Mr president directed following a presentation to the Federal Executive Council led by the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu.
“The 2025 framework is based on oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel. Oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day. Exchange rate of one 1400 naira (to the dollar).
“All these are already included in the medium term expenditure framework which we have presented here, which have also been approved by the National Assembly.
“So the total projected revenue for 2025 stands at N34.82tn out of which the expenditure is projected at N47.96tn which is an increase of 36.8% from the 2024 estimate. The deficit for 2025 is projected at N13.13tn representing 3.89% of GDP”, Bagudu said.
Meanwhile, the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by President Tinubu might not hold on tomorrow (Tuesday).
Reacting to a question after the Council meeting the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that discussions were ongoing that might lead to the postponement of the budget presentation to Wednesday.
The Minister, who noted that the discussions were yet to be concluded, however said the possibility is there that the budget will be presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday instead of the Tuesday earlier announced by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio, had, during plenary, last week announced that President Tinubu will present the 2025 budget on Tuesday.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
