The Senate has approved a total budget of ₦287.4 billion for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) for the 2025 fiscal year.
The breakdown shows ₦272.4 billion allocated to the NCC and ₦15 billion to the USPF—a special intervention initiative designed to extend communication services to underserved and unserved communities across the country.
The approval followed the presentation and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Communications, chaired by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, during plenary on Tuesday.
Presenting the report, Bilbis explained that the USPF’s projected revenue and expenditure for 2025 were both pegged at ₦15 billion. He noted that:
₦10.9 billion is earmarked for projects and programmes that drive digital inclusion;
₦4.04 billion is allocated for the secretariat’s recurrent costs;
and ₦53.96 million is set aside for capital expenditure.
“The Committee, having reviewed the budget documents and interacted with the management of the Fund, recommends the approval of ₦15 billion for USPF operations in 2025,” Senator Bilbis said.
Earlier, during the budget defence session, NCC’s Director of Financial Services, Mr. Yakubu Gontor, had given a detailed breakdown of the commission’s proposed budget of ₦272.4 billion, which includes:
₦95.7 billion for recurrent expenditure;
₦10.75 billion for capital projects; and
₦40.9 billion for special projects.
The Senate adopted the committee’s recommendation without objection, thereby passing the budget proposals as presented.
