Senate Queries FCT Minister Over Non-implementation Of Budget

Solomon Ayado Senate, yesterday, queried the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello over the non-implementation of N30 billion 2017 budget of the ministry. 

The Senate also faulted the depletion of resources to the FCT by the federal government and stated that the situation had worsened the growth of the nation’s capital. Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) noted that Abuja as capital of the most populous black nation ought to be given priority attention by adequate releasing of funds to enhance its rapid growth and development. The FCT minister, Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello while appearing before the Senate during the 2018 FCT budget deliberation however, confirmed that 27 infrastructural projects were prioritised in the territory’s 2018 Appropriations Bill currently being considered by the Senate. Bello revealed that N40 billion was proposed in the 2018 budget but insisted that revenue accruable to the federal government has decreased. 

According to him, N30 billion was proposed for FCT in 2017 budget but only N12 billion of the sum was released. He said only about 41 per cent of the current 2017 budget has so far been implemented by the ministry with regards to capital expenditure. However, senators have urged the federal government to prioritise the FCT budget. The lawmakers advised the federal government to allocate and release adequate funds to the FCT administration because of its strategic position and role.