Reps panel seeks FCTA park-pay review

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory has questioned the operational model of the park and pay policy of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

At a meeting with the mandate secretary in charge of the transportation secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, on Wednesday, the committee said residents and motorists of Abuja are being harassed by personnel in charge of the enforcement of the policy.

Recall that the FCTA reintroduced the park and pay policy in August 2023 after signing an agreement with two concessionaires.

The policy is to decongest the city and make motoring in the nation’s city a pleasant experience.

The policy was suspended in April 2014 after a high court judgment stopped the FCTA from collecting fees from residents for on-and-off-street parking within the metropolis. The court ruled that the policy was not supported by law.

Speaking on the issue at the interactive session, the Chairman of the Committee,  Muktar Betara, asked for justification for the reintroduction of the scheme and how remittances were made to the accounts of FCTA.

Responding, Elechi said the policy was applicable only to designated areas which served as parking zones.

“The park and pay is by regulation. We have a legal framework. It is part of the ways of controlling traffic. So, under the park and pay, designated areas are meant to be parks. So, it is legal.

“It is (revenue) paid through concessionaires. There is usually a ratio between the concessionaires and the FCT. So, for areas where we have the concessionaires, there is a percentage that goes to the concessionaires.

“It is 60 per cent to them and 40 per cent goes to FCT. The infrastructures for the work is usually provided by the concessionaire. It (revenue) goes straight to the revenue account of the FCT not transportation.”

Not satisfied, Betara probed Elechi further, asking, “How was the contract established? In appointing your concessionaires, what procedure did you follow? How much has been remitted to the FCDA from January to date and who gave you the approval?”

Responding, Director of Legal Services, Hussaina Olayemi, explained that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Abuja Investment Company, the FCT organisation responsible for public-private partnerships, were involved.

“After their involvement, the concession was submitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval. So, we have the FEC approval,” Olayemi stated.

The panel however faulted the FCDA for allocating 60 per cent of revenue to concessionaires while the government received only 40 per cent, demanding clarification on what infrastructure the concessionaires are providing.