Taiye Odewale
Abuja
The N222 billion 2017 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Appropriation Bill scaled second reading in Senate yesterday .
Presenting lead debate on the general principles of the bill, the leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe North), said it was for the financial year January 1 – December 31, 2017.
He said the bill would be funded from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one per cent from the Federation Account.
According to him, the sum of N222 billion was proposed for the FCT budget for the 2017 fiscal year, out of which N164 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure.
He added that of the N164 billion earmarked for capital expenditure, the sum of N1 billion was earmarked for the expansion and rehabilitation of Outer Northern Expressway and Airport Expressway.
“From the capital expenditure, N13 billion is proposed for the provision of infrastructural facilities to districts and road construction in Jahi, Wuye, Maitama Extension, Abuja North West and Katampe Districts.
“N1 billion is proposed for the construction and dualisation of Lower- Usman Dam, Gurara Road and 400 million is earmarked for provision of access road to Kabusa Garden.
“N1.5 billion Naira is proposed for the construction 2,276 resettlement houses at Galuwyi/Shere Resettlement Site while the sum of N100 million Naira was earmarked for the renovation of the International Conference Centre(ICC),’’ he said.
While appraising the 2016 Budget, Lawan said the FCT received the sum of N241billion, out of which N53 billion was allocated to personnel cost.
He added that the sum of N34 billion was allocated to overhead cost, while the balance N154 billion was dedicated to Capital Expenditure.
He added that during the year, a total sum of N113 billion accrued to the FCT as revenue, indicating a 47 per cent level of performance.
The Senate Leader explained further that, considering dwindling funding from the statutory revenue allocation, emphasis had been placed on completion of ongoing projects, particularly those with high impact on provision of services and infrastructure.
He urged the lawmakers to give the bill expeditious passage upon which the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, mandated the Senate Committee on FCT to work on it and return it back in two weeks.
