Senate jacks-up FCT Statutory Budget by N46bn

The Senate yesterday passed the National Statutory Budget of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and adjourns plenary till January 28, 2020

The budget of N278,355,365,947bn has an increase of N46bn increase from the earlier amount of N232,875,365,947 proposed by the administration to the legislature.

Explaining the increase, the Senate committee chairman on FCT Abubakar Kyari said funding for security was doubled to enable the security architecture provided the needed security to the legacy capital city.

He said: “it is noteworthy that the current security apparatus cannot guarantee safety and security in the FCT and it’s surrounding towns and villages.”

He also noted that 50 per cent releases of the 2019 budget of the Federal Capital Territory reduced capital expenditure performance to 35 per cent, which he noted was dismal.

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Structure of expenditure for the proposed 2020 FCT budget showed a total Recurrent expenditure of N110,946,584,530 consisting of personnel costs standing at N53,876,241,095 and the overhead costs put at N57,070,343,435bn.

According to the FCT appropriation bill passed by the Senate, N121,928,781,417 was allocated for Capital expenditure for 2020 fiscal year.

The amount is about N75.6bn higher representing 260 per cent increase on last year’ capital budget of N46, 292,431,523.09.

The Engineering services have the highest allocation of capital expenditure with the sum of N59.946bn allotted it was followed by N36.540bn for Satellite Towns Development Do (STDD).

The administration will be spending N9.410bn on transportation the passed appropriation bill stated.

The Senate thereafter adjourns plenary till January to observe it’s Christmas holiday.

This was after the President of the Senate has named Senator Smart Adeyemi as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation.

Adeyemi replaced Senator Dino Melaye who lost the November 16 re-run senatorial elections.