FG Requests Senate To Extend Operation Of FCT 2015 Appropriation Act To March 2016

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

The Federal Government (FG) Tuesday requested the Senate to amend and extend the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2015 Statutory Appropriation Act to March 31, 2016.

Buhari in a letter read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noted that the 2015 FCT Appropriation Act was assented to by former President Goodluck Jonathan on the 28th of May, 2015.
He pointed out that the late assent of Jonathan to the document allowed the FCTA only seven months in 2015 for implementation, which he said was not enough to fully implement the Act.

The President further explained that the delay in signing the appropriation bill into law, also affected its implementation in respect of capital projects and other expenditures, resulting in numerous payments for critical and essential projects remaining outstanding.

The letter reads in part: “I am writing to seek the Senate’s approval to extend the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) 2015 Statutory Appropriation Act to 31 March 2016.

“You may recall that the 2015 FCT Appropriation was assented to by my predecessor on the 28th of May, 2015. The delay affected its implementation in respect of capital projects and other expenditures. In this connection, numerous payments for critical and essential projects are outstanding.

“In view of the foregoing, the Senate is invited to note: the FCT 2015 statutory appropriation assented to on the 28th of May 2015 allowed the FCTA only 7 months in 2015 for implementation.

“To meet its obligations and as permissible by the constitution, the FCT 2015 appropriation needs to be extended to 31st March 2016 as that would enable the FCT to make payments for various critical and essential ongoing projects towards achieving a better performance in the implementation of projects for the 2015 statutory appropriation.

“I have taken a liberty of attaching a draft FCT appropriation amendment bill 2015 for your consideration, while looking forward to your kind approval of my request”.

Meanwhile, the Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions submitted its report on the abuse of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), to be debated by the upper legislative chamber at a later date.

Similarly, the Committee on Ethics also submitted its report on the petition against Total Exploration Nigeria Limited by some of its staff, who were allegedly disengaged without due process.