By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike on Friday, presented the 2024 National Appropriation Bill of N17,109,746,531.00 before a joint session of the Senate and House committees on FCT.
This is the minister’s first budget presentation in office as the 17th minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike, who was accompanied by the minister of state for FCT, Executive Secretary Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), said the budget if pass by the joint session of the 10th NASS committees, will help to complete critical projects in the Federal Capital City and the Satellite towns.
The N17.109bn is FCT’s share from the N27.5 trillion 2024 National budget presented by president Bola Tinubu before the National Assembly, recently.
Wike revealed that the sum of N5 billion was allocated as a counterpart fund for the Greater Abuja Water Supply projects and N4.5 billion for the design and construction of Nigeria Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower.
He disclosed that N3 billion was allocated for the rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat, while N4 billion was allocated for the completion of the Vice President’s Residence.
According to Wike, ” N609.7 million for settlement of residential and office accommodation for international organisations in FCT.
“The money is just N17.1 billion, so what can I say other than to say, please help us pass it,”
Speaking on the performance of the 2023 budget, Wike said that a total of N15.474,499,132.00 billion was appropriated for infrastructure development, which he said only N8 billion has so far been released representing the 52%.
Ibrahim Bomai, chairman senate committee of FCT who spoke on behalf of his counter from House of Representatives, said the amount was not enough for completion of the ongoing projects, especially the Abuja Greater water works.
Bomai urged members of the joint session of the committees to consider the minister to take a bow and go, which they all accepted.
He said: “If we all agree, let the minister take a bow and go”.
