Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

As part of efforts to deepen digital connectivity and enhance telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria, the Senate yesterday approved a total budget of N287 billion for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) for the 2025 fiscal year.

The approval followed the adoption of a report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator IkraAliyuBilbis, during plenary.

According to the approved figures, N272.433 billion was allocated to the NCC, while N15 billion was earmarked for the USPF.

USPF is a special intervention fund managed by the Commission to extend communication services to underserved and unserved areas of the country.

A breakdown of the USPF budget showed that N10.9 billion was designated for projects and programmes that promote digital inclusion, while N4.04 billion would cover recurrent expenses of the Fund’s secretariat.

The sum of N53.96 million was, however, allocated for capital expenditure.

“The Committee, having reviewed the budget documents and interacted with the Fund’s management, recommends that the Senate approve the sum of fifteen billion naira (N15,000,000,000) only for the operations of the USPF in the 2025 fiscal year,” Senator Bilbis told lawmakers during the presentation of the report.

Earlier during the budget defence session, Director of Financial Services at the NCC, Mr. YakubuGontor, who led the technical presentation, disclosed that of the NCC’s proposed N272.423 billion, N95.668 billion was for recurrent expenditure; N10.75 billion earmarked for capital projects, while N40.93 billion was reserved for special projects.

The motion for the adoption of the report was moved and unanimously approved by the Senate without objection.

The approved budgets are expected to bolster Nigeria’s drive toward universal access to broadband and digital services, especially in rural and remote communities.

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