The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello has said the ministry will concentrate on on going infrastructure projects that have highest effects on the largest number of the populace in Abuja.
Indeed, he highlighted three significant projects including roads, rail and the greater Abuja water projects in the FCT 2022 appropriation.
Bello spoke at the presentation of performance of the 2021 statutory budget, 2022 appropriation as well as review of the 2022 national budget and the FCT component of the 2023 national appropriation to the joint committtee of the National Assembly on federal capital territory held on Thursday in Abuja.
This comes as the Senate Committtee on FCT has placed Satellite Towns Development Department on notice of an oversight visit on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) said the oversight would afford the committee to see how “we can improve the well being of our people, especially those who reside outside the city of Abuja”.
In the period under review, the minister said the FCT has proposed N607 billion revenue and budget profile in 2022 appropriation.
“Our desire is to continue to complete on going infrastructure projects that have the greatest effect on the largest number of people, we are concentrating a lot of our resources on capital expenditure.
Comparatively, Bello said the National Assembly approved N329 billion for FCT in 2021.
He explained that the federal budget for 2022 gave FCT N59 billion, saying only N19bn has so far been released to the ministry, even as he expressed optimism that the remaining balance of over N30 billion would be released.
Speaking on the 2023 priority budget, the minister noted that the federal ministry of finance allocated N13.5bn to FCT compared to N59 billion this year.
He hailed the joint committtee for the support given to the FCT administration over the years, stressing “as we jointly partner to develop Abuja, and by extension make the federal capital territory achieve the dream of the founding fathers”.
“The FCT gets statutory funding from the proceeds of one percent of the 52.68 percent allocated to the federal government of Nigeria from federation account. In addition to that we raise revenue through our internally generated operations as well as other sources” Bello said.
Meanwhile, Senator Adeyemi assured that the committee through its oversight function will strongly support and compliment effort of the minister in the fight against corruption and any administrative problems that might arise.
“We as a committee have resolved to better the lives of all residents of the FCT by ensuring the full implementation of this budget.
“We would ensure through our oversight duties that the beauty and status of the federal capital is not only the pride of Nigeria but which every black man all over the world can be proud of”.
He eulogized Bello, “minister you have not done badly, you have done well. If we are not impressed, I will say it here.
“You have done well, I have seen many of your projects, I never knew you have done well.
“Let me commend you for what you have done, ours is to compliment your efforts, our is to see how we can add value to what your doing, but also to call your attention to areas that need your attention” Adeyemi concluded.
