Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has directed the six Area Council Administrations to use the recently received N684 million Paris refund to pay the arrears of salaries they owe workers in the councils.
The minister who addressed members of the Senate Committee on FCT today, Thursday, during the Committee’s hearing on the Bill for the Political and Administrative Structure of FCT Area Councils, said that he would like to see that the Area Councils’ workers are paid the arrears of their salaries.
He clarified that the FCT Administration is yet to benefit from the Paris Club Refund, saying that what the Administration received was money meant for the Area Councils, even as he suggested a special fund to pay for the severance packages to Area Council political office holders.
This, according to him, could be by setting aside a percentage of the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the Area Councils upon collection.
He said that while he had read that FCT was to receive N1.2 Billion and N684 Million representing first and second tranches of Paris Refund respectively, it was only on Friday last week that the second tranche was paid into the FCT Account, saying the Administration is yet to receive the first tranche.
Muhammad Musa Bello asked the Committee to look into the subject of the collection of Tenement Rates in the Federal Capital City (FCC) against the background of the huge investment the FCT Administration makes in the development of infrastructure and provision of services in the Capital City.
The Minister acknowledged the support and guidance of the Senate Committee on FCT in the efforts to provide infrastructure and services in the Territory, saying: “we look at the Area Councils as an extension of the FCT Administration, we don’t intend to ask them to refund the bailout but as the days go by we would find the ways and means around it.
“It is however, very important that this distinguished Committee be able to really recognize the critical role of FCC, which is the 250sqkm where you find the Presidency, the Diplomatic Community and the Ministries. We have had instances where the consultants go to seal up diplomatic building, being unmindful of such international treaties like the Geneva Convention on the status of Diplomatic persons and institutions.
“When you are looking at the political structure, we hope the Committee recognize this unique position and even when the subject of taxes are being considered, it could be done in such a way that the FCT Internal Revenue Service is the one to handle them to avoid embarrassments.”
The Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye said that the Committee intends to pass the Bill on the Political and Administrative structure of FCT Area Councils into law before the end of the year, to give a permanent solution to the various areas of concern.
He commended the parties in the suit challenging the FCT Administration and the House of Representatives on the legality or otherwise of stopping the Abuja Municipal Area Councils from collecting Tenement Rates, for withdrawing the suit. He said it was a welcome development to exhaust all avenues for dialogue. [myad]
