By Donald Iorchir
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration said that it was set to review the allowances and salaries of traditional rulers within the Territory.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, who was represented by the FCT Mandate Secretary, Mr. Abdullahi Bappa, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday at the official foundation-laying ceremony of the Byazhin Model Market, Kubwa.
According to him, the need to review and upgrade the salaries and allowances came after a team of supervisors visited some of the area councils on the transitional rulers’ challenges and also, proffer solutions.
The challenges, he said, had left some of the councils like Kwali and Abaji in debt and had been unable to pay salaries and allowances to traditional rulers, including allowances of past office holders and staff of the councils.
He said: “Funds are a major challenge to so many of them but we have made a case for them and are meeting tomorrow or next week to deliberate on how to pay certain percentages of these outstanding dues and also give them an upgrade.
“Also, the palaces of these chiefs are in bad shape and not conducive enough for them who are the custodians of our culture. We will try and give the palaces a new touch so that we are not left embarrassed when tourists come around.”
On the remodelling of the Byazhin Market, the minister said it would bring about an increase to the economic wellbeing of the people in the community, increase the revenue base of the council as well as that of the entire Territory.
Chairman, Bwari area council, Mr. Musa Dikko, in his remarks, said the market would bring about increase in levies and taxes to be collected for further development in the communities.
He said the Byazhin community was one of the largest communities in the area and so deserved “a befitting model market that would bring about tourism, unity, employment and beauty of the community.”
Dikko also gave the assurance that the market developers would do their best to deliver a well-structured market that could be compared to any model market in the Territory.
Also speaking at the event, Rep. Bitrus Jisalo (APC, AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency) gave the assurances of the National Assembly to support development in the councils.
Jisalo, while commending the chairman for “a job well done,” urged him to ensure necessary support was given to mostly, women and youths in the community.
According to the developer, Mr. Adebayo Ojisua, the market structure would consist of “four main blocks of shops, offices, warehouses, clinics, banks and ATM facilities, among numerous others.”
He said the structure would be designed to serve as a hub for other markets within the Territory “and is situated close to a mass populace of farmers to ease functionality.”
