By Ayoni M. Agbabiaka
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has released the sum of N1,679,825,308.1 as bailout to the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory for the payment of January and February salary owed their workers.
Minister of the FCT, Malam Muahammad Musa Bello, who disclosed this while briefing journalists, revealed that Kwali and Bwari area councils got N251,120,125.32 and N289,724,550, respectively.
Abaji, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Councils received N267, 724,550, N295, 708,856.60, N262, 559,501.26 and N312, 987,740.12, respectively.
The Minister said the money was a bailout fund released to the Councils, which must be used to offset the two months’ salary arrears owed the area councils workers.
Bello, however, said the bailout to the six area councils would be recovered by the FCT Administration from the 10% of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) statutorily due to the Councils.
Also speaking at the occasion, FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, noted that the FCT Administration had been able to give “this bailout because of its strict fiscal management and therefore admonished the area councils to imbibe discipline in funds management.”
Ajakaiye urged the Councils to cut down on unnecessary expenditure, stressing that the era of frivolities was gone forever.
He warned that the bailout must be used strictly for the payment of staff salaries as stated in the agreement between the FCT Administration and the area councils.
Ajakaiye further revealed that due process and necessary legal steps were followed in the approval and subsequent release of the bailout funds.
According to him, the Administration had approached the National Assembly for virement of its funds for this purpose, while area councils’ legislative arms have also given their nod to the Chairmen to secure the bailout via letters to the FCT Administration.
Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), FCT Chapter who also doubles as Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Micah Jiba, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the FCT Minister and the Permanent Secretary for coming to their aid.
He promised that the money would be used for the right purpose.
On his part, the chairman, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Tanko Shemdi, also appreciated the FCT Administration for intervening by assisting to bring the crisis to an end.
Shemdi, however, reiterated that there were still outstanding pension remittances amongst other issues that must be addressed.
He stated that the union would only call off the strike when it received alerts confirming that their salaries had been paid.
Four members of the FCT Traditional Council led by its Chairman and the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, witnessed the occasion.
