By Ben Adoga
The Federal Capital Territory Administration in her June Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, JAAC meeting has disbursed a total sum of N2,660, 740, 632.40 billion to it’s six area councils and other stakeholders as its share of statutory allocation for the month of June 2021.
The figure shows that there was a marginal drop of revenue from N2,724,546,444.33 billion disbursed in the month of May to N2,660, 740, 632.40 billion for the month of June.
FCT minister of state, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who presided over the 155th JAAC meeting appealed to council chairmen and stakeholders to show understanding and make judicious use of the allocation.
The minister explained that the decline in the allocation was as a result of drop in the statutory revenue allocation from the Federation Account.
In a press statement issued at the end of the JAAC meeting by Austine Elemue, special assistant, media, to the FCT minister of state. “The figures released indicate that the sum of N773, 574, 574.28 million was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1,887, 166, 058.12 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N2,660,740,632.40 billion.”
However, distribution to area councils show that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), as usual received the lion share; N188,477,690.83 million, while Gwagwalada got N177,472,859.50 million and Kuje received N108, 501, 865.37 million.
Others are Bwari Area Council which received N84,657,261.97 million, Abaji got N117, 435, 546.65 million and Kwali received N97, 029, 349.96 million.
Furthermore, distribution to other stakeholders include: Primary School Teachers which gulped N1, 526,230, 256.60 billion, 15 percent Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57 million, One percent Training Fund gulped N26, 607, 406.32 million, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution gulped N107,849, 405.63 million, bringing the total sum to N1,887, 166, 058.12 billion.
The minister said a tripartite meeting comprising the officials of FCT Administration, Area Councils staff and the leadership of the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) which was called to upscale the revenue generation in the territory.
She affirmed that the administration would not continue to work at cross purposes in the face of dwindling revenue generation in the nation’s capital.
Aliyu, who used the occasion to call on the FCT Primary Health Care Board and stakeholders to intensify campaign against the outbreak of cholera and other severe acute diarrhoea diseases in the Federal Capital Territory, also described the spread as unacceptable.
While calling for more commitment on the part of all stakeholders, the minister however commended them for showing understanding in the distribution of monthly allocation to area councils and other stakeholders.
Those present at the 155th JAAC meeting include the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Ag. Secretary Area Council Services Secretariat, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, Chairmen of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji Area Council, Bwari Area Council, Kuje Area Council, Vice Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council and other critical stakeholders.