The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, says his administration has reversed the trend of bloated recurrent expenditure by slashing it down and allocating 70 percent of the FCT budget to capital projects, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Phase II rehabilitation of the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa on Tuesday in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
Wike stressed that his reforms were designed to end wasteful spending and channel resources into infrastructure and essential services that directly impact residents.
He accused some civil servants of awarding frivolous contracts worth between ₦5 million and ₦25 million without ministerial approval, describing such practices as avenues through which funds for meaningful projects had been diverted in the past.
“Computers every year and foreign trips will not solve our problems. What will help is the development of our people roads, schools, water, and security. That is what is important,” the Minister said.
On the controversy surrounding alleged unpaid indigenous contractors, the Minister vowed not to bow to blackmail or approve payments for irregularly awarded jobs.
“When you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. But we will defeat corruption. If anybody says I awarded a contract, let them bring the documents. I will not be intimidated,” he declared.
Wike also hit back at critics who accuse the FCTA of focusing only on roads, insisting that the administration was investing heavily in other sectors, particularly education.
He directed the Secretary of Education to publish a list of completed, renovated, and ongoing schools across the FCT.
