Senators on Wednesday passed a daming verdict on Minster of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello following uncompleted projects that scatter the capital city of Nigeria.
The Senate therefore approved a sum of N607.952 billion budget for Federal Capital territory Administration (FCTA) for 2022 fiscal year 30 days to the end of the year.
Breakdown of the budget showed that the sum of N76,565,904,857 is for Personnel Costs and N138,199,851,110 is for Overhead Costs while the balance of N393,182,267,614 is earmarked for Capital Expenditure.
Reacting to the submission by the Chairman of FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemo , Senator Chukwuka Utazi said the minister of FCT has not Performed optimally with the numerous projects abandoned in the FCT
He added that the central business district which is the city centre in the FCT has over the years been congested because of the failure of the FCT leadership to see to the development of the satellite towns
He urged the chairman senate Committee on FCT to ensure the 2022 budget of the FCT is fully Implemented and projects completed
Senator Utazi also tasked the FCT minister to redouble efforts in ensuring the development of the FCT is achieved before the end of the Current Administration.
Senator Mathew Uroghide also reacting, lamented that several projects have become moribund in the FCT, especially the Apo to Asokoro road, which has been under construction for over three years.
He added that with the increase in capital expenditure of the FCT, from N188Billion to 399Billion, there should be appreciable improvement in project completion in the coming days
.in the budget, Senate approved the FCT budget following the consideration of the report of its committee on FCT headed by the Chairman Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the passage of the Appropriation bill for President Buhari’s assent, FCT Committee Chairman, Senator Smart Adeyemi listed some critical areas that the new budget seeks to address in the capital territory.
Senator Adeyemi said the National Assembly deliberately put the Capital Expenditure at 64 per cent of the total budget to ensure that all ongoing projects are completed for the benefit of residents of the FCT.
He also disclosed that a lot of money is earmarked for education in order to provide more class rooms and other necessary education materials in all FCT schools.
” during our oversight activities to schools in FCT, we are shocked to discover that more than 80 pupils are put in one class room and this cannot guarantee quality education. We must ensure that education environment are descent and infrastructures are provided,”; says Smart Adeyemi
On infrastructural development, he said that money has been provided in the budget for the expansion and rehabilitation of Lower Ozuma Dam and other dams to provide water for the residents of FCT.
Similarly, some of the hospitals in the territory such as Maitama District Hospital, Wuse District Hospital, Asokoro District Hospital, Kubwa District Hospital as well as FCT Semi-Urban Districts Hospital and FCT Satellite District Hospitals will be given deserved attention.
Also on the issue of insecurity, Senator Adeyemi said with the passage of the 2022 FCT budget, insecurity will be drastically reduced as security lights would be provided in roads and strategic places in the territory.
Senator Adeyemi however explained that the delay in the passage of the 2022 budget will not affect the capital implementation aspect of the budget.
