The Nigerian Senate has approved a total of ₦287.433 billion for the 2025 budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

 

The approval was granted during plenary on Tuesday, July 8, following the consideration and adoption of the report presented by the Senate Committee on Communications, chaired by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis.

 

Out of the approved sum, ₦272.433 billion was allocated to the NCC, while ₦15 billion was earmarked for the USPF—a special intervention fund under the NCC established to expand communication access in underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria.

 

Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Bilbis explained that the USPF’s projected revenue and expenditure for the 2025 fiscal year were both estimated at ₦15 billion.

 

Breakdown of the USPF Budget:

 

₦10.9 billion for projects and programmes promoting digital inclusion

 

₦4.04 billion for recurrent expenses of the USPF Secretariat

 

₦53.96 million 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 ₦15 billion for the operations of the USPF in the 2025 fiscal year,” Senator Bilbis stated.

 

 

 

During the budget defence earlier this year, the NCC’s Director of Financial Services, Mr. Yakubu Gontor, presented the technical breakdown of the commission’s ₦272.433 billion budget.

 

NCC 2025 Budget Allocation:

 

₦95.668 billion for recurrent expenditure

 

₦10.75 billion for capital expenditure

 

₦40.93 billion for special projects

 

 

The motion for adoption of the recommendations was moved on the Senate floor and passed without objection.

 

The approved budgets are expected to further Nigeria’s digital infrastructure development, enhance regulatory efficiency, and foster broader access to telecommunication services nationwide.