Can mandate secretaries fill infrastructure deficit in FCT?

Public expectations regarding infrastructure development and deployment in the FCT have hardly been met because the deficit in basic necessities, like potable water, in the Territory continues to linger administration after administration, despite promises to give residents enhanced standard of living.
DONALD IORCHIR wonders if the newly appointed mandate secretaries can make any difference
Yearn for Development In spite of the obvious continued physical development in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) which though has been restricted to the Federal Capital City (FCC) the yearning for development in the Area councils is tops in the minds of residents.
Human capital development remains an issue for the administration to improve upon.
This is a critical aspect of development especially in this information age where knowledge is further emphasized as the catalyst for growth and development.
Abuja as a strategic component of the FCT faces the same challenge as other states in terms of infrastructural deficit, management dysfunctional and social vices.
However, the resources available to FCT administration ought to suffice for a measurable change in the area of human capital development in the Territory.
Mandate Secretaries It is in this light that the appointment of six Mandate secretaries in the Federal Capital Territory Administration with a charge to coordinate the affairs of the secretariats for effective service delivery to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in welcome; Mores so, in the light of the much touted change agenda of the present administration.
The secretaries sworn in September 2017 were; Adamu Bappah, secretary for area council Secretariat, Nzekwe Ifeanyi Chukwu, Aygriculture and Rural Development, Isa Maina, Education, and Amanda Pam, for Health and Human services.
Other secretaries are; Muhammad Umar, Legal services, Okadimeji Hassan, Social Development and Kayode Opeife, Transportation Secretariat.
The FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello charged the mandate secretaries of the recently constituted cabinet to be innovative so as to pursue the transformation agenda of the incumbent for economic reliance and prosperity; infrastructural development and good governance in the Territory.
The minister seem to understand that time was against his team when he emphasized that government business in the Federal Capital Territory was a serious business; noting that “we are running a city with daily influx of people where the best services are required 24 hours withexpectations that we keep up with this pace.
Minister’s Charge It was commendable to note that the Minister’s charged to the secretaries that they should put aside every distraction, work as a team; having in mind that Mr.
President’s Agenda and the expectations of the residents for a sustainable development of the territory; “this is in consonance with desired development of the people.
Apparently, all these secretariats should evolve schemes that would promote the development Feature of the people whose wellbeing would ensure a safer and cleaner city for all residents.
The Education, Agriculture, Social development and health secretariat can comfortable work together on complementary projects that would enhance the quality of the people thus promoting transformation in the country.
Lips service will not do this! It is against this background that the people of the FCT would consider the Minister’s insistence that there was no room for excuses or failure.
“Dividends Of democracy must be delivered to the residents of the territory.
The residents will not only hold the minister to his words but the mandate secretaries so charged.
Nothing can bring to bear the aspiration for advancement in the city as coveted by the people, the FCT Minister, who charged the secretaries to work as a team with a view to achieving optimal success in the overall interest of the residents.
He counsel that they should engaged productive ventures for the FCT to emerge a pace setter to other states, need not be emphasized.
Bello who said “Transformation is no longer a slogan since it is measurable, it has brought into fore a new era of accountability where performance indicators will be used to assess records of efficiency or otherwise of all duty bearers, “this captures the mood of the moment among all residents of Abuja.
“With patience, dialogue and mutual respect for one another, you will get total co-operation from everybody involved, “he advised.
Bello also disclosed that there is going to be FCT stakeholders retreat always which will be aimed at producing a developmental roadmap that will facilitate smooth running of the FCT Administration through effective planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, adding that, the era of more haste, less speed is over, the focus now should be on sustainable result.
Expectations In reality, the people expect the authorities to match words with action through close monitoring of activities by these Mandate Secretaries.
It is believed that ultimately the actions or inactions of the mandate secretaries will impact in like manner on the touted ‘transformational agenda’ which punctuates every statement of the present administration.
Given the numerous challenges facing the nation’s capital especially in the area of provision of basic social; amenities and infrastructure, like pipe borne water, transportation services; health services; education, satellite towns development and other sundry issues.
It is expected that the incumbent FCT Minister Musa Bello should not trail his predecessors who only politick with these critical issues of development without visible result to their shame, but the Bello team must surpass the achievements of his predecessors in office.
Time is ticking fast against the administration.
Visible performances will boost public confidence on Bello’s team.
People wait for quick wins in agriculture, education health care delivery, among others.

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