Tinubu Meets With Akpabio At State House

•Few Days After Passage of N54.99trn 2025 Budget

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday night met with President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio at  the State House, Abuja.

Wednesday meeting, which took place in President’s officialresidence, came few days after the National Assembly passed the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget.

Though no official details of the discussion between the two, but the meeting is believed not to be unconnected with final preparations for the President’s assent to the budget, which was approved by both chambers of the National Assembly about a week ago.

Akpabio’s motorcade was spotted outside President Tinubu’s official residence at the State House, signaling a private high-level discussion.

The 2025 Appropriation Bill, which was increased from the N50.09 trillion originally proposed by the President, is the largest in Nigeria’s history.

It prioritizes infrastructure, security, education, and healthcare, with a projected revenue target of N18.32 trillion and a budget deficit of N36.67 trillion.

Key allocations include N8.5 trillion for debt servicing; N9.1 trillion for capital projects; N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure; and N3.25 trillion for defense and security.

Few hours before the meeting, the Senate had on Wednesday summoned intelligence chiefs to investigate allegations made by United States Congressman Perry Scott that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.

The resolution followed an Order of Urgent National Security raised under Order 41 by Senator Mohammed Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District.

Akpabio had said at Wednesday’s plenary session that Nigeria won’t allow the USAID to continue operating in Nigeria if found guilty of sponsoring terrorism.

Senate President stressed that it is important for Nigeria to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.