FCT minister commissions new buses to ease workers’ movement

THE Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has commissioned twenty five large capacity buses to alleviate hardship of transportation being faced by workers in the nation’s capital city.

He said the buses which were commissioned at the Federal Capital Administration (FCTA) Staff Car Park, Abuja, would boost the welfare of workers in FCT.

Bello, who noted that the buses were the first tranche of the FCTA Staff Bus Scheme, said the scheme was conceived as a palliative to cushion the effect of economic hardship and difficulty in vehicular transportation of members of staff to and from the office.

He said his administration viewed the scheme very important because the welfare of staff remained topmost priority, saying this was the only way to increase productivity and quality service delivery to the residents of the territory.

The minister recalled that a committee headed by the Director of Establishment and Training was constituted to work out modality for a short and long term strategy on the operation of Staff Bus Scheme.

He explained that the initial number in the Staff Bus Scheme was 25 large capacity buses which monetary value would be deducted as part of liquidation of the FCTA loans to the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO).

He said the intention of the FCT Administration was to boost the operation of the scheme and to make it more vibrant through collaborating with development partners in getting more buses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He said this would expand the scope of its operation to cover staff of other Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister disclosed that members of staff would be conveyed on subsidized fares from all the routes within the FCT, including Keffi in Nasarawa State and Suleja in Niger State to reduce the cost and stress being faced by staff.

Malam Bello, however, called for regular maintenance to ensure that the vehicles last long; adding, “high maintenance culture remains the watchword of the current FCT Administration”.

He paid tribute to the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and the FCT Department of Establishment and Training that worked very hard to make the programme a reality.

FCT Director of Establishment and Training, Salihu Hawat Mohammed, in his welcome address, said the commissioning of these buses had demonstrated the unwavering commitment of the FCT administration to the welfare of the members of staff.

He said the scheme had also added to the Minister’s achievements in promoting industrial harmony by ensuring regular payments of salaries to staff even at the critical time of recession.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and other senior officials of the FCT administration also attended the commissioning ceremony.