The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, has advocated for a definitive constitutional provision be made to ensure adequate and unhindered funding of the FCT through the creation of an FCT Infrastructure Development Fund or through a 1st line charge on the funds of the Federation or some other acceptable arrangement.
The minister said this during the National Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution taking place in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The Minister also made submissions to the Committee where he prayed for amendments to certain sections of the constitution which will amongst others bring governance closer to the people and also guarantee funding for the development of the FCT.
Bello urged that submissions seeking amendments to the 1999 constitution should be guided by the principles of national unity, patriotism, and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians.
He equally called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity provided by the exercise to strengthen national bonds and cohesion.
According to him, “the Strength of our country lies in the diversity and dynamism of her people. We should seize the opportunity provided by this exercise to strengthen our common bond as a people and guarantee the growth and development of our country.
“While seeking an amendment to SECTION 7 of the constitution, the Minister proposed the inclusion of a new subsection immediately after Section 7(5) to read as follows: A: (6) The functions to be conferred by law upon the Area Councils may include those set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution and, where so conferred, shall be performed outside the Federal Capital City (FCC) and such areas as may be designated from time to time by the Minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.
Bello said the justification for this, is that “Section 7 (5) as presently constituted gives room for duplicity of roles, conflicts, and mismatches in planning, provision of infrastructure and service delivery in the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposed amendment, the Minister explained is aimed at addressing the aforementioned problems and achieving harmony between the FCTA and the Area Councils.
“The Area Councils are entitled to their Constitutional mandates. However, they should do that outside the Federal Capital City (FCC) and, as a matter of expediency, collaborate with the FCT Administration, to ensure harmony in the development of infrastructure and provision of amenities”, Bello added.
The Minister also noted that the collaboration between the FCT Administration and the Area Councils is necessary because the Federal Capital Territory is a planned modern project with a centralized planning system, cohesive infrastructural coordinates, and interconnected engineering designs.
In proposing amendments to section 301 of the Constitution, the Minister submitted that Section 301(c) to read: “References to persons, offices and authorities of a State were references to the persons, offices, and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration with like status, designations, and powers, respectively”.
Justifying this submission, the Minister said “This current provision does not give full effect to Section 299 of the Constitution and as such requires an amendment that will effectively empower the Federal Capital Territory functionaries to discharge their statutory responsibilities including, but not limited to those specified by Presidential Order No. 1 of 2004″.
Furthermore, Malam Bello added, “the proposed amendment will enable the Federal Capital Territory functionaries to assume the statutory roles assigned to certain Government functionaries under the Federal Capital Territory applicable laws as contained in the Schedule of the Federal Capital Territory Act”.
Also present at the event were the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu and the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola amongst other senior officials of the FCTA.
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