Deteriorating infrastructures litter FCT, reps lament
The House of Representatives has observed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and other agencies responsible for infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are failing in their responsibilities as the city is littered with deteriorating public infrastructure.
This was contained in a motion moved on the floor of
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is proposing to spend the sum of N299,963, 491.46 for the 2021 fiscal year.
This was contained in the 2021 Statutory Budget Proposal presented by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to the Senate Committee on the FCT on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex.
Bello explained that the sum of N136,312,350,743.21, representing 45.44 per cent of the total budget, is earmarked for recurrent expenditure with N74,523,382,813.15 going for personnel cost.
The minister revealed that this sum represents a 15 p[ere cent increase over the 2020 appropriation to accommodate the House by Rep Yusuf Ago Tajuddeen, who stated that dilapidated public infrastructure in the city was a major setback to its development and attraction of investment.
The motion noted that infrastructure decay had taken over the FCT as it was littered with bad roads, unchanneled drainage systems, uncleared debris, damaged and blocked manholes, ineffective streetlights and non-functional traffic lights.
“Abuja, which is recognised by various local and international peer review organisations as the most-modern, top quality and pace-setting events and conference hub of Africa, is now experiencing an all-time low in terms of infrastructure and environmental development.
“The present dilapidated conditions of public infrastructure in the city have the potential of slowing down meaningful investment and development in the city.
“Despite yearly budgetary allocations to the FCTA for the maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrade of infrastructure, the administration and relevant agencies have serially exhibited gross inefficiency, outright ineptitude and apparent non-commitment to their responsibilities,” he added.
The House mandated its Committee on FCT to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the deteriorating state of public infrastructure in Abuja city and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.