FCTA disburses N6.31bn March allocation to area councils, stakeholders

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has disbursed the sum of N6,316,621,045.37 billion among the six area councils in the FCT and other stakeholders, as statutory allocation for March 2024.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

The amount represents a 40 per cent increase from the previous allocation of N3,938,092,102.92 billion in February 2024.

Dr Mahmoud, who presided over the 188th Joint Accounts Allocation Committee meeting on Thursday, expressed satisfaction over the increase in allocation and urged the Area Council authorities to justify the monies paid by embarking on meaningful projects.

“The allocation to the area councils as it stands today, goes beyond payments of staff salaries. It is, therefore, high time for the chairmen to embark on people-oriented projects, to justify the resources that go to the councils,” she said.

According to the statement, a breakdown of the figures showed that “the sum of N3,814,043,951.50 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N2,502,577,093.87 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N6,316,621,045.37billion.”

A further breakdown showed that the Abuja Municipal Area Council was to receive N796,985,326.39 million, Gwagwalada N606,666,131.20 million and Kuje Area Council would receive N635,903,823.41 million.

Other area councils include the Bwari Area Council, which received N598,406,880.71 million, Abaji Area Council got N564,901,838.77 million, and Kwali received N611,179,951.02 million, bringing the total sum to N3,814,043,951.50 billion disbursed to the six area councils.

On the other hand, distribution to other critical stakeholders includes Primary School Teachers which gulped N2,115,855,089.92 billion, 15 per cent of Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57 million, one per cent of Training Funds gulped N52,394,108.75 million, while 10 per cent of Employer Pension Contribution gulped N107,849,405.63 million, bringing the total sum to N2,502,577,093.87 billion.

Among those present at the 188th JAAC meeting was the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy to FCT Minister of State, Dr Abdullahi Isa Kauramata; Mandate Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Hon. Bitrus Garki; Permanent Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Dr Olusa Olusegun; Ag. Director of Funds, Mr. Muhammed Aris; the Commissioner, FCT Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, Hon. Ismail Ajaka; and the representative of the Accountant General’s Office, Mr. Muhmud Nasiri.