The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has asked the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to explain how he came about the funds to donate 22, 18-seater buses to the Bauchi state chapter of the PDP.
The council in a statement weekend wondered how the minister came to the decision of donating 22 buses to the PDP, when the transport situation in the FCT was yet to see any meaningful development.
The statement signed by the council chairman, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, expressed NUJ’s concern at the over N143 million expended by Bala on the gift to the party, stressing that the minister needed to explain the source of the fund for the purchase of the gift.
According to the statement, “This council is indeed worried by the donation of 22 18-seater buses by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to the Bauchi state chapter of the PDP. Conservatively, each costs N6.5 million. It will interest us to know where the minister got N143 million for the buses.
“Our concern is also informed by the fact that the transport sector in the FCT is yet to see any appreciable improvement. We have a situation of non-safety compliant and fewer buses plying various routes despite much celebration of launching same.”
The NUJ said it would not shy away from fulfilling its constitutional role of holding government officials accountable to the people, stressing that residents of the FCT deserve best possible governance which can only be achieved when those running the affairs of the administration are accountable.
