By Ben Adoga
The Senate on Tuesday mandated the FCT Minister to implement fully it’s 2021 Statutory Budget if N229,963,491,522.46.
This was at the budget presentation when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello presented the FCT 2021 Statutory Budget proposal in the sum of ₦299,963,491,522.46 to the Senate Committee on FCT.
A breakdown of the total expenditure shows that total recurrent expenditure is ₦136,312,350,743.21 while capital expenditure is ₦163,651,140,779.25 respectively. Also, the sum of N74,523,382,813.15 is proposed as Personal costs while overhead Costs is ₦61,788,967,930.06 respectively.
Equally, the sum of ₦136,312,350,743.21 representing 54.56% is proposed as capital expenditure for the year 2021, which is for the development of infrastructure with emphasis on completion of ongoing projects.
Out of the proposed capital expenditure, the sum of ₦78,793,795,841.000 is dedicated to the completion of the ongoing Abuja Light Rail projects and other counterpart funded related projects aimed at enhancing socioeconomic activities of the FCT.
Similarly, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is allocated the sum of ₦26.7 billion and Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) the sum of ₦17.7 billion.
Also, other SDAs were allocated the cumulative sum of ₦40,903,488,220.00 for their capital expenditure, in order to address critical areas like ongoing road construction, water treatment plan and related facilities, but with new projects.
The Minister explained that the focus of the capital budget is mainly on completion of ongoing projects that have high impact on service delivery to the FCT residents.
He disclosed that a fiscal framework of the sum of ₦299,963,491,522.46 comprising distributable revenue of N215,951,023,735.00 and non-distributable revenue of ₦84,012,467,787.46 have been proposed for the FCT 2021 statutory budget after due consultations with all revenue generating agencies of the FCTA.
According to him, there is an increase of the sum of ₦100,722,960,173.00 (34%) in the 2021 budget proposal, when compared with the revised 2020 appropriation of the sum of ₦199,240,531,350.00.
Furthermore, the Minister revealed that the sum of ₦7.5 billion is earmarked for the expansion and rehabilitation of seven major roads in 2021, in order to speed up their completion before the end of the fiscal year.
He added that the sum of ₦17.7 billion is proposed for infrastructural development in the Satellite Towns, of which the key projects are; engineering infrastructure to Kubwa, Bwari, Karshi, Wasa and extension of Karshi-Apo Road.
While thanking the committee for the opportunity provided to the FCT Administration to defend its 2021 statutory budget proposal, Bello expressed conviction that with legislative and moral support, the development of the nation’s capital city to its envisaged status of a modern city comparable to any in the world will be achieved.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Chairman of the Senate committee on FCT, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the committee would ensure the full implementation of the budget, through its oversight functions, to ensure effective service delivery to the residents of the FCT.
The senator, however, reiterated that the FCT Minister should ensure that budget proposal should henceforth be presented on or before September of the preceding year, for proper and efficient deliberation and implementation.