House To Investigate Contracts, Budgetary Allocation Of FCTA

Following the poor state of infrastructure across the nation’s capital, members of the house of Representatives have unveiled plans to investigate various contracts awarded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The lawmakers also mandated its Committee on Federal Capital Territory to investigate the budgetary allocation of the FCT from 2021–2023 and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

These resolution was passed as a sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Oboku Oforji, who decried the poor state of infrastructure such as bad roads, poor electricity supply, inadequate health centres, ill-equipped hospitals, fire stations, poor water supply, insecurity, and inadequate commuter vehicles in certain regions.

While noting that the territory’s legislative powers are vested in the National Assembly by ensuring that its budget is presented to both chambers for consideration, the lawmaker underscored the need for the House to exercise its statutory powers.

“The House also notes that the Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976, comprising six Area Councils, namely: Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali, encompassing parts of old Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, and Plateau States.

“The House is aware that the Federal Capital Territory Minister administers the entire FCT, while the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) focuses on the construction and infrastructure development of the region.

“The House is also aware that over 60% of FCT residents live outside Abuja Municipal Area Council; however, infrastructural development is poor in Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali Area Councils, with Lugbe and Kubwa being popular for civil servants and businessmen.

“The House is worried about the poor state of infrastructure such as bad roads, poor electricity supply, inadequate health centres, ill-equipped hospitals, fire stations, poor water supply, insecurity, and inadequate commuter vehicles in certain regions”.

“The House is saddened that the sorry state of infrastructure in these areas affects productivity. As civil servants are regularly held in traffic gridlock, hence getting to work late, the insecurity in these places cannot be overemphasised. This is evident by recurring incidences of armed robberies and kidnappings.”

Worried by the development, the House urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to rejig the security architecture of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

By Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji