By Jamila Musa
With the Nigerian economy being in recession, a lot of people have become disillusioned about the change mantra of the APC-led federal government and its institutions like the FCT. Add this to the morbid mindsets for which everything APC or PMB is a no-no and you will find yourself dealing with very bizarre cynicisms. Nevertheless, truth remaining incontrovertible no matter how it is shredded, I daresay unequivocally that the FCT under Alhaji Musa Bello is working! Those who expect to see the usual propagandistic bang of the olden days certainly would be disillusioned by the calculated beeps of the present times. For one who has been able to breach the wall of prejudice, hatred and bitterness, it is more than obvious that the present leadership of the FCT has recorded remarkable milestones. However, for the benefit of doubt, it is not out of place to draw attention to some faint idea of the size of the distance already travelled by this new leadership and the direction it is facing. It is such an irony how people who do not know about a thing and have no desire to know could attempt to pass judgment.
Abuja was envisioned as a new capital city that will be liveable, comfortable, healthy and naturally rich for urban development. Therefore, a minister who is worth his onions would focus efforts on influencing contexts in which the dreams and aspirations that underpinned the evolution of Abuja as the Nigerian capital city could be realized. Unlike his predecessors, Bello came on board as Minister of the FCT at a time the city was quite vulnerable as a result of over-stretched infrastructure that needed urgent replacement, a workforce whose morale is lowered by wanton negligence and poor conditions of service, a treasury depleted by corruption, a general lack of institutional ethics and values, and a staggering economic disequilibrium.
The honourable minister is a man noted for his consistency of character, dedication and integrity. Many have ascribed mellow wisdom to him and that is just as well since the man has proved that in his uncanny juggling of nuances and pragmatism so far in guiding the city to the path of redemption. This administration has identified a responsible and forward-looking fiscal management well-conduced to a strategic deployment of resources to meet the present and future needs of the city. Ensuring high environmental standard is paramount to the strategic development of the FCT and the minister has ensured this objective remains one of high priority, in addition to ensuring that the workforce is motivated for achievement. This posturing of the minister was recently underscored by the unprecedented bailout of N1.6 billion granted to the Area Councils in the FCT for the payment of staff salary arrears and other related benefits.
With much focus on infrastructural development and people’s well being, the minister certainly assuredly knows what is critical at this material time. His planned launch of Community Development Scheme is a milestone of the FCT Administration. Muhammad Musa Bello dropped the hint recently while commissioning a borehole project executed by some corps members serving in the FCT as part of their community development efforts. In a reaction to the corps members’ progressive gestures, the minister restated the commitment of the FCTA to open up the development of rural areas with basic facilities to make life easier for the rural dwellers.
In a bid to re-echo the change begins with me campaign of the PMB administration, the minister, who believes that the people themselves must take ownership and be involved in government for effective tackling of the myriads of social, economic and political challenges confronting the nation, called communities to come together to initiate projects for government’s partnership.
Another promising initiative of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is the ambitious plan to build 400 units of houses every year to close the housing deficit and provide affordable accommodation for its workforce. This is a direct impact project which if implemented could go a long way in alleviating the housing needs of FCT residents. This project has been provided for in the FCT 2016 statutory budget, thus guaranteeing immediate takeoff. The minister’s humane nature was once again laid bare during the launch of the programme. He had remarked that “before I was appointed minister, I had the impression that everybody in the FCTA was also a landlord. But to my surprise, I realized that a number of the staff, particularly those in the middle level and junior cadre do not own properties in the city. Some of them have worked here for so many years, processing land applications, processing files, giving approvals, providing services, but they have been tenants in this city. Some of them never had the opportunity of occupying the houses that were sold some years back.”
This is a rare gesture of empathy and genuine concern for the workers of the FCT, whose cooperation and commitment the minister recognizes as a critical success factor.
The administration’s determination to improve road access for rural and satellite communities in the territory; improvement of the territory’s road networks in a sustainable manner and ongoing upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of transport infrastructure as well as security and crime control are quite laudable. For one, the Apo-Karshi road which was scheduled to be completed in December 2011 by the last administration but abandoned until now when the Musa Bello administration proactively made a N1.5 billion provision for in the 2016 budget with a view towards its immediate completion is a very important road which would alleviate the sufferings of thousands of commuters in the Nyanya-Mararaba axis.
As a nation presently on a precipice, a careful, judicious and purposeful intervention in areas of priority is the best strategy needed to set things right. Therefore, the minister’s careful beeps as opposed a haphazard bang is key to revitalization.
Musa wrote from Abuja
