THE House of Representatives has approved N61.55 billion Federal Capital Territory (FCT) supplementary budget for the financial year ending December 31, 2023.
This followed the passage of the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill for the FCT through the third reading at plenary on Thursday, November 30.
Out of the approved sum, N12.90 billion is for overhead costs (recurrent expenditure), while N48.65 billion is for capital projects.
The FCT Administration will get N2.2 billion from the overhead costs, the FCT Human Resources Management Department is to receive N3.3 billion, while N2.8 billion, and N1 billion respectively were earmarked for the Department of Information and Communication and the Legal Secretariat.
Others are the Facilities Maintenance and Management Department taking N1.6 billion, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board which will receive N1.5 billion, and the Satellite Towns Development Department which is to get N500 million.
For the capital expenditure, Engineering Services (FCDA) is appropriated N30.54 billion, Public Building (FCDA) gets N15.11 billion, and Bus Rapid Transit and Transport Regulations (BRT&TR) receives N3 billion.
Before the approval, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had defended the N61.5 billion 2023 supplementary budget before the relevant Senate and House of Representatives Committees.
He said the budget revenue sources would be inflows from Paris Club refund, payee tax liabilities, special intervention funds (palliatives), internally generated revenue (IGR) and the infrastructure support fund.
He pointed out that the top priority projects would include the Abuja rail mass transit, provision of mass transit buses/rehabilitation of existing ones, and expansion of roads.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.