Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has commiserated with the Nigerian Union of FCT (NUJ), FCT Council, over the death of three members of the council.
Malam Musa, who described the deaths as loss to the journalism profession, presented a condolence letter to the union and next of kin of the deceased journalists.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Engreer Umar Gambo Jibrin, expressed disappointment at the state of the secretariat.
“I am surprised that the building is still like this because I thought that by now it would have progressed more than this. But, I assure you that in the next two weeks, the contractor will be mobilized to site to complete at least the first phase because we agreed that the complex will be completed in phases.
“I can also assure you that when the first phase is completed, the building will be more befitting than any other council secretariat in the country,” he said.
The minister also congratulated the Emmanuel Ogbeche-led executive and promised to support them as partners in progress, just as he said that the administration cannot take the support of the union for granted.
Earlier, Chairman of Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche thanked the minister for his continued support to the council, especially in his efforts to ensure the speedy completion of the secretariat.
He decried the fact that the council lacked a befitting secretariat for the council and called on the minister to make good his promise to complete the building of the secretariat complex.
In a vote of thanks, one-time Chairman of Council, Comrade Jacob Edi, commended the minister for his accessibility and expressed confidence that the minister will keep his words.
Highlight of the visit was a tour of the uncompleted secretariat complex by the minister, accompanied by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka C. Ohaa and other management staff of the FCTA, the executive secretary FCDA and members of the FCT NUJ.
