Abuja — Nigeria’s national assembly has approved a budget of 54.99 trillion naira ($36.6 billion) for 2025, exceeding the proposal submitted by President Bola Tinubu, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudden Abbas said on Thursday.
Tinubu last week submitted a budget of 54.2 trillion naira to the National Assembly, but lawmakers raised the amount before granting their approval. Under Nigerian law, parliament can increase or cut the government’s spending plans.
Nigeria made a provision of $200 million in the spending plan to fill gaps created by the United States’ suspension of aid to Nigeria’s health sector, according to a Senate document seen by Reuters.
In December, the government said the 2025 budget included a deficit of 3.89% of gross domestic product, approximately 13 trillion naira.
*Camillus Eboh; Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; editing: Sharon Singleton & Alex Richardson – Reuters
