By Emmanuel Elebeke

The Federal Government has allocated N298.4 billion to the National Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for the 2025 fiscal year. This allocation, which is part of the proposed 2025 budget currently under consideration by the National Assembly, is part of a broader N47.9 trillion budget known as the “Budget of Restoration.”

The budget primarily focuses on key areas such as security, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and health, with a deficit of N9 trillion.

However, no funds have been allocated to capital expenditure for NASENI. The entire N298.4 billion will be spent on recurrent expenditure, including salaries, wages, and other personnel-related costs.

Similarly, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has been allocated N175.1 million for 2025, with no provision for capital expenditure. Of this, N124 million will be used for personnel and salary expenses.

The Defence Research and Development Bureau has been allocated N8.6 billion for the fiscal year, with N5.2 billion earmarked for recurrent expenses. The Defence sector received the largest share of the entire budget, which exceeds N14 trillion.