Senate approves N272.47b budget for NCC, N15b for USPF in 2025

The Nigerian Senate has approved a total of ₦272.47 billion as the 2025 budget for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), along with ₦15 billion for the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

The approvals were granted during plenary on Tuesday following the presentation of the report by the Senate Committee on Communications, chaired by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis.

Presenting the report, Senator Bilbis emphasized the strategic importance of the NCC in Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, describing the commission as a pivotal institution in driving innovation, connectivity, and digital inclusion across the country.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission is the regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry,” he said.

According to him, the commission’s budget is crucial to advancing Nigeria’s connectivity and regulatory capabilities.

Bilbis urged fellow lawmakers to support the committee’s recommendations.

He said: “Your Excellency, that the Senate do approve the recommendation of the committee,” referring to the N272,473,805,000 budget submitted for the NCC.

Also, the Senate approved N15 billion as this year’s budget for the Universal Service Provision Fund, which is managed by the NCC.

The fund is focused on extending telecommunication services to underserved and rural communities across the country.

According to Senator Bilbis, the USPF’s 2025 budget breakdown includes N10.9 billion for projects and programmes, N4.04 billion for recurrent expenditure, and N53.96 million for capital expenditure.

“That the Senate do approve the sum of N15 billion only as the Universal Service Provision Fund’s budget for the year 2025,” he said.