Despite the claim of gender inclusivity in his administration, no female government official was present on Friday when President Bola Tinubu signed the 2025 appropriation bill into law.
During the signing ceremony at the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu was surrounded by some male cabinet members, including Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff (CoS).
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives; Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy; Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, were seen standing on the left-hand side of the president as he signed the document.
By the right were Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Abubakar Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning.
Some key female officials in Tinubu’s cabinet include Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade, and investment; Doris Uzoka-Anite, minister of state for finance; and Mariya Mahmoud, FCT minister of state.
Tinubu signed the N54.99 trillion bill into law, marking a 99.96 percent increase from the 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion.
The national assembly approved the bill on February 13, after revisions to the president’s initial budget proposal of N49.7 trillion.
The key breakdown of the 2025 budget includes a total expenditure of N54.99 trillion, statutory transfers of N3.65 trillion, and a recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N13.64 trillion.
Other components are capital expenditure (N23.96 trillion), debt servicing (N14.32 trillion), and a deficit-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 1.52 percent.
