By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Minister of The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has appealed to the National Assembly to approve the N17 billion appropriated for FCT Administration out of the N27.5 trillion 2024 proposed National Budget.
Wike made this request when he appeared before the Joint Session of the Senate and House Committees on FCT, in Abuja on Friday.
The FCT Minister in his defense explained that if the N17.1 billion was allocated to the FCT Administration, the amount would be allocated to complete abandoned projects and to sustain the implementation of critical projects.
According to Wike, N5 billion was allocated as a counterpart fund for the Greater Abuja Water Supply projects and N4.5 billion for the design and construction of Nigeria Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower.
“N3 billion was also allocated for the rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat, while N4 billion was allocated for the completion of the Vice President’s Residence.”
“N609.7 million for settlement of residential and office accommodation for international organizations in FCT.”
The money is just N17.1 billion, so what can I say other than to say, please help us pass it,” the minister said.
Further speaking on the performance of the 2023 budget, Wike said that a total of N15.5 billion was appropriated for infrastructural development, adding however, that only N8 billion was released representing 52 percent.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Mr. Ibrahim Bomai, who responded acknowledged that all the projects were ongoing ones, adding that the funds would not be enough to complete the projects.
Bomai emphasized that the FCT operates a dual budget – the national budget and the statutory budget, and expressed hope that the statutory budget might be in hundreds of billions.
He also appealed to the members of the joint session to give no objection, considering the meager amount.
“If you have no objection, we will ask the minister to take a bow and go,” Bomai said.
