FCT

Abuja, March 20, 2024: The Senate has approved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2024 Statutory Budget of N1.28 trillion.

The budget was approved after the consideration of the harmonised report of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on FCT, during plenary on Tuesday.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee on FCT , Sen. Ibrahim Bomai, said that the FCT had proposed N1. 15 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.

Bomai said that the committee after its deliberation, recommended N1.28 trillion ,adding that that from the projected revenue, N140 billion was for personnel cost.

“N373 billion is  for overhead cost while N768 billion is for capital projects,” he said.

In his remarks, Deputy Senate President,Sen. Jibrin Barau ,who presided over the plenary, commended the committee for expediting the process of passing of the budget.

He said that the budget of the FCT would help in changing the fortunes of the capital city and make it one of the best cities in the world.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had on Monday, while defending the budget, said that it was designed to transform the capital city and rural communities.

He explained that the proposed capital expenditure would be dedicated to the development of infrastructures with emphasis on completion of ongoing projects.

Abuja, March 13, 2024: President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Udo Atang, the most senior director in the FCT Administration (FCTA) as its pioneer Head of Civil Service Commission. 

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Officer of the FCT Minister, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. 

Ogunleye also announced the appointment of 10 Permanent Secretaries for various Secretariats of the FCTA as provided for in the FCT Civil Service Commission Law, 2018.

He identified them as Dr Adam Babagana (North East), Wanki Ibrahim (North East), Asmau Mukhtar (North West), Dogo Bodinga (North West), Olusa Olusegun (South West) and Adetoyi Kolawole (South West).

Others are Grace Adayilo (North Central), Olubunmi Olowookere (North Central), Ibe Chukwuemeka (South East) and Okonkwo Nonubari (South South).

The director also announced the appointment of Mr Emeka Ezeh as Chairman of the Commission, with six others as commissioners, representing the six geopolitical zones.

He identified the commissioners as Ahmed Mohammed (North West), Anthony Okeah (South-South), Mohammed Ibrahim (North East), Miskoom Naantuam (North Central), Jide Jimoh (South West) and Barrister Azubike (South East).

“Similarly, Mr. President also approved the following to fill existing vacancies in some critical agencies of the FCTA.

“The are: Abdulkadir Zulkarfi as Coordinator Satellite Town Development Department; Mr Felix Obuah, Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council; and Oladiran Akindele, Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC),” he said.

The director said that the appointments take immediate effect, adding the appointees would be sworn in on March 18.

FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike had on Oct. 13, announced Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for the FCT.

The appointment, therefore, marks the full implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission Law, 2018.

Abuja, Jan. 5, 2024: The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the Ministry of Finance has released N50 billion to the FCT to finance ongoing capital projects.

The amount, according to the minister, is 50 per cent of FCT’s N100 billion 2023 supplementary budget, approved by the National Assembly.

Wike made the announcement, after an inspection tour of some ongoing projects in the FCT, in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister said that he has directed the Permanent Secretary to immediately make payments to the contractors handling projects in FCT.

“I am happy to announce to you that the Ministry of Finance has released 50 per cent of the national supplementary budget.

“That in a way, has given us that hope that the contractors will be paid anytime from now.

“We have also gotten assent to the FCT Statutory Budget, which again, has given us hope that no project will be left uncompleted as promised.

“As you can see, these are quality projects, which we are very satisfied with.

“We believe that the arrangements made by the contractors will enable us to commission the projects to celebrate Mr President’s one year in office,” he said.

He commended the residents of Abuja for their support, while assuring them that there was no promise made that would not be fulfilled, stressing that a promise made would be fulfilled.

He expressed confidence that the projects would be delivered on schedule, saying “we are quite hopeful; we are quite convinced that they would keep to the time scheduled as agreed.

“We are happy with what we have seen, and we will continue to do things to the satisfaction of the residents of Abuja and assure them that the renewed hope agenda is not a mere talk.”

“So, it is a promise and a promise kept.”

Wike acknowledged some challenges at the course of delivering the projects, adding, however, that the challenges were surmountable.

He added that with the kind of support from President Bola Tinubu, there were no challenges that would not be surmountable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike inspected the Outer Southern Expressway, which stretched from A.A Rano, through Deeper Life Junction, SARS, Apo roundabout to Wasa District.

The road is being constructed by China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited.

Wike also inspected the Northern N-20 Expressway in Jahi District being constructed by Gilmor Construction firm, and the Vice President’s residence being constructed by Julius Berger.

The Area Manager, CGC Nigeria Ltd., Yong Hong, assured the minister that the Outer Southern Expressway would be delivered before May.

Similarly, the representative of Julius Berger, Mr Oliver Berger, said that the team were on site for the past two months and have done a lot of work on the VP residence project.

“We have done a lot of cleaning inside and outside.

“As you can see a lot of infrastructural work has happened; earth work around the fence line has been done, sewage and other trenches have been done.

“All the procurement processes have commenced already and from the preparation point of view we are in a good position to turn all our plans and procurement activities into action,” he said.

FCT gets Civil Service Commission

Abuja, Oct. 14, 2023: President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of Civil Service Commission for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to allow career progression for civil servants in the FCT Administration.

The Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, disclosed while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday.

Wike said that in 2018, the National Assembly passed a Bill for the establishment of CSC for the FCT and was assented to by the then acting President Yemi Osibanjo.

He said that the civil servants in the FCTA had lost hope because Directors in the Administration could not get to the apex of their careers because there was no CSC.

He added that the law for the creation of the commission had been signed but nobody wanted to implement it for different reasons.

He explained that while some were afraid of what others would say, others felt the development would reduce their power and influence.

The minister said that he was not aware of the existence of the law until recently.

“So, I wrote a Memo to Mr President. I say, you have a renewed hope agenda; civil servants in FCT are suffering; they have lost hope.

“They are not committed to work. Why should I be working because at the end of the day, I can’t get to the apex of my career. As such, we must implement that 2018 law as passed by the National Assembly.

“If there are challenges, of course there is no law that is perfect. You can only know the challenges when you start implementing.

“So, let’s implement, whatever the challenges are, then we can begin to talk of how we can amend it

“I can tell you authoritatively that Mr President has given the approval for the establishment of Civil Service Commission for the FCTA,” he said.

Wike explained that with this development, civil servants will go beyond directors to become Permanent Secretaries, adding, “that is the essence of the renewed hope agenda.”

He called on the civil servants to thank Tinubu for this remarkable consideration after waiting for several years.

The minister said that he accepted to work with Tinubu because of his capacity and the political will to do things that other people were afraid to do.

Wike pointed out that one of the problems of the country was leadership, urging that people should not be afraid of doing the right thing.

“What is important is that the action is guided by law, conscience, and guided by the interest of Nigerians and not the interest of me, the FCT minister, or any other person,” he said.

Abuja, Oct. 14, 2023: President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of Civil Service Commission for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to allow career progression for civil servants in the FCT Administration.

The Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, disclosed while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday.

Wike said that in 2018, the National Assembly passed a Bill for the establishment of CSC for the FCT and was assented to by the then acting President Yemi Osibanjo.

He said that the civil servants in the FCTA had lost hope because Directors in the Administration could not get to the apex of their careers because there was no CSC.

He added that the law for the creation of the commission had been signed but nobody wanted to implement it for different reasons.

He explained that while some were afraid of what others would say, others felt the development would reduce their power and influence.

The minister said that he was not aware of the existence of the law until recently.

“So, I wrote a Memo to Mr President. I say, you have a renewed hope agenda; civil servants in FCT are suffering; they have lost hope.

“They are not committed to work. Why should I be working because at the end of the day, I can’t get to the apex of my career. As such, we must implement that 2018 law as passed by the National Assembly.

“If there are challenges, of course there is no law that is perfect. You can only know the challenges when you start implementing.

“So, let’s implement, whatever the challenges are, then we can begin to talk of how we can amend it

“I can tell you authoritatively that Mr President has given the approval for the establishment of Civil Service Commission for the FCTA,” he said.

Wike explained that with this development, civil servants will go beyond directors to become Permanent Secretaries, adding, “that is the essence of the renewed hope agenda.”

He called on the civil servants to thank Tinubu for this remarkable consideration after waiting for several years.

The minister said that he accepted to work with Tinubu because of his capacity and the political will to do things that other people were afraid to do.

Wike pointed out that one of the problems of the country was leadership, urging that people should not be afraid of doing the right thing.

“What is important is that the action is guided by law, conscience, and guided by the interest of Nigerians and not the interest of me, the FCT minister, or any other person,” he said.