FCT priority projects to gulp N30.7 billion in 2019 fiscal year

Dino Melaye faults poor budget releases to territory
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has presented a budget of N30.7billion to the Senate Committee on FCT for national priority projects in the territory for the 2019 fiscal year.

FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello, made the presentation when he led a delegation of senior FCTA officials to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Bello stated that the 30 projects include the provision of engineering infrastructure to several districts, payment of counterpart funds, construction of the Abuja rail mass transit (LOT1B), Abuja Rail Mass transit (LOT 1and 3), completion of the International Technical and Vocational Institute, Utako and four comprehensive science and technical colleges in Abaji, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Karshi as well as the provision of primary infrastructure (road, water, sewage and power supply) to mass housing districts, among others.

A statement signed yesterday in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Minister, Tony Ogunleye, quoted Bello as stressing that the amount is based on the National Priority Budget Capital Envelop for the 2019 fiscal year for the FCT.

The minister said that while N32,298,122,862.00 was appropriated for in the 2018 FCT budget, N9,689,436,861.77 was actually released, adding that of the 33 priority projects listed for implementation, only 15 were executed up to various degrees.

He, however, attributed this to non-release of funds to the FCT administration, a situation he said, was not peculiar to the FCT alone.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Senate Committee on the FCT, Dino Melaye, who expressed dissatisfaction at the inadequate release of funds to the FCT, appealed to the Federal Government to give special attention to the territory and release adequate funds for the development of the FCT.

‘’Abuja city hosts the seat of the Federal Government along with about 90 per cent of the embassies in the country and is the first port of call of all foreign dignitaries that visit Nigeria,” he said.

He said it would be a national embarrassment if facilities and utilities of the FCT were not functioning properly.

He, however, commended the FCT minister for his transparent approach to governance and prudent management of resources.