The Senate yesterday approved N272.47 billion for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and N15 billion for the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) as their budgets for the 2025 fiscal year.

The approval followed the presentation of the reports of the Senate Committee on Communications by its Chairman, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, during plenary.

Bilbis described the NCC as a pivotal institution in the country’s digital transformation journey.

“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.