Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has given a list of what he and his team, especially the Mandate Secretaries and other political office holders aim at achieving before leaving office in the next 14 months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
According to him, in the 14 months left to the expiration of the tenure of the current administration, the FCT Administration would focus on the provision of social infrastructure that will have the desired impact on the majority of the residents.
The Minister spoke today, March 31 in Abuja, as he declared open, the induction programme and retreat for Mandate Secretaries and other political office holders.
He said that the list include substantive investments in the education, health, agriculture and transportation sectors.
He said that a solid foundation will be laid for improved revenue generation and that the FCT is currently second only to Lagos State in Internally Generated Revenue. He vowed to make the capital city the highest internally revenue generating sub national in the country.
The Minister also reminded the participants that with increased political activities in the country, they should not allow themselves to be distracted but to focus squarely on meeting set objectives.
“You must also be wary of being distracted in the discharge of your responsibilities, especially as political activities begin to gain momentum. Criticism will become fiercer and seemingly unfair and sometimes laced with outright falsehood. These are to be expected in the intense struggle for political power. Your duty is to avoid being sidetracked but you should remain focused and committed with your eyes and efforts set on meeting set objectives.”
The minister called on them to use the opportunity provided by the retreat to speak frankly to each other, bearing in mind that public service was a unique opportunity to serve the citizenry, he once more called on them to engage extensively in horizontal communication as a model for meeting challenges.
Malam Musa Bello also expressed appreciation to members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen and members of the Senate and House Committees on the FCT, the Senate Minority Whip and Senator representing the FCT, Senator Philip Aduda as well as the Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters Hon Tijjani Damisa.
In her remarks the Hon Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu urged political office holders to remain loyal and work to protect the integrity of the Administration and strengthen its institutions.
This was even as the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola said that the mandate secretaries of the FCTA are the equivalent of Commissioners in the States, adding that in that capacity, they superintend specific aspects of the services of the FCT Administration to the citizenry. He reminded them that they had the responsibility to ensure the delivery of the mandates of the FCTA, under the Hon. Minister and the Hon. Minister of State.
He said that the retreat which has “capacity building for Accountable Leadership” as its theme will cover topics on FCT policies and mandate with focus on delivery of the goals of the Next Level agenda, administrative procedures, procurement procedures, ethics and accountability, staying out of trouble in the public service and the peculiar administrative arrangement in the FCT.
Others include relationship management, particularly with stakeholders, as well as managing health and living a stress free life.
