President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday night met with Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the President’s official residence inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting came just days after the National Assembly passed the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget.
Details of their discussion remain undisclosed but the meeting is believed to be connected to final preparations for the President’s assent to the budget, which was approved by both Chambers of the National Assembly seven days ago.
Senator Akpabio’s motorcade was spotted outside President Tinubu’s official residence at the State House, signaling a private high-level discussion.
The 2025 Appropriation Bill, which was increased from the N50.09 trillion originally proposed by the President, is the largest in Nigeria’s history.
It priorities infrastructure, security, education, and healthcare, with a projected revenue target of N18.32 trillion and a budget deficit of N36.67 trillion.
Key allocations include N8.5 trillion for debt servicing; N9.1 trillion for capital projects; N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure; and N3.25 trillion for defense and security.
Hours before the meeting, the Senate on Wednesday summoned intelligence chiefs to investigate allegations made by United States Congressman Perry Scott that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.
The resolution followed an Order of Urgent National Security raised under Order 41 by Senator Mohammed Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District.
Speaking at Wednesday’s plenary session, Akpabio said Nigeria won’t allow the USAID to continue operating in Nigeria if found guilty of sponsoring terrorism.
The President of the Senate said it was important for Nigeria to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.
