NEWS
Cash Crunch Hunts FCT With Shortfall In Allocation From NN59b to N13.5b – FCT Minister
By John Danjuma
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has expressed apprehension over an imminent cash crunch that is hunting the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory.
The minister spoke on Thursday during the defence of the N607.9billion 2022 budget before the National Assembly joint Committee on FCT.
The Minister while making a presentation before the committee indicated that while N59billion was earmarked for the Territory from its 1% allocation from the federal budget in the 2022 fiscal year, the allocation has been slashed to N13.5billion for the 2023 fiscal year.
He said even from the N59billion allocated for it from the federal government portion of the federation account in the 2022 fiscal year, only N19billion has been released to date
“The FCT budget has two components, One is yearly allocation from 1% of the federal government share of the federation account and the second one is internally generated revenue which has over the years been the main sustenance of governmental operations in FCT.
“In the N607.9billion 2022 budget of FCT, the federal allocation is just N59billion out of which only N19billion has been released.
“For the 2023 fiscal year, the projected federal allocation has been drastically slashed to N13.5billion despite the increase in the number of planned projects from 20 in the 2022 fiscal year to 22 in the 2023 fiscal year” he stated.
He explained further to the committee members that out of the proposed N607.9billion 2022 budget, N76.6billion is for personnel cost, N138billion for overhead cost and the remaining balance of N393.2billion is for capital projects.
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According to him, one of the critical projects the capital votes are to be used on is the Greater Abuja Water Project, planned to provide portable water for 29 additional districts within the territory.
He said as a result of huge financial demands, the territory is now adopting integration of indigenes into newly opened districts as against the resettlement policy that has been causing crisis over the years.
“System of re-settlement earlier put in place has not worked, making us adopt the policy of integration as presently being done in Kabusa “, he said.
However, the Committee led by its Chairman, Senator Smart Adeyemi ( APC Kogi West), urged the Minister to start implementation of property tax in FCT for required revenue generation.
Senator Adeyemi said implementation of property tax in FCT, will not only give the administration, N200billion to N250billion in a year but also helped in preventing crime and criminality within the territory.
“It is only in Nigeria that people are allowed to build Houses or Estates without renting them out for many years, which invariably serve as hideouts for criminally minded ones.
“With the enforcement of payment of property tax, such practice will stop”, he said.
On security, he disclosed to the Committee members that 60vehicles worth N2billion would be distributed to various security agencies like the Nigeria Police, the Army, Civil Defence etc, next week Thursday.
Other members of the committee who commented, tasked the Minister to come up with a framework for regulation of the public transportation system within the territory as well as provision of required infrastructure in satellite areas, as they set for oversight visitation on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.
According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.
The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether bh Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.
Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.
Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.
Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.
Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.
According to him, the plot, involving both foreigners and Congolese citizens, unfolded in the early hours outside the residence of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Gombe district, close to the president’s offices at the Palais de la Nation.
General Sylvain Ekenge announced on national television that the defence and security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt.
He said “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces. The foreigners and Congolese…including their leader” would “all no longer cause any harm”.
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation during the attempted coup, as confirmed by various sources.
General Ekenge didn’t elaborate further on the incident, and AFP’s attempts to get additional information from official sources remain unanswered.
However by late morning, the city appeared calm.
Early social media reports suggested an armed attack on Kamerhe’s residence, with some assailants heading towards the Palais de la Nation.
“This morning, there was an armed attack at the residence of the economy minister,” wrote Japan’s ambassador Hidetoshi Ogawa on X.
He stated that Kamerhe “was not harmed, but two policemen and an assailant were killed according to sources.”
France’s ambassador reported hearing automatic weapons fire in the area and advised French nationals to steer clear of the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in military attire at the Palais de la Nation, waving flags of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the regime of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all transition committee chairmen in the state’s 21 local government areas.
This decision was detailed in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024, and signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.
According to the letter, the directive will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read, “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
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