By Sarah Negedu
Statutory allocation to the six Area Councils in the FCT and other stakeholders declined by 5.3percent in October, dropping to N4,476,067,191.05billion as against the N4,726,127,134.71billion disbursed in September.
Allocation from the federation account to the FCT had risen steadily in the third quarter of 2021, rising from N4.1billion in July, to N4,504,239,740.60 in August and then N4,726,127,134.71billion in September.
Though the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, who presided over the 159th Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, did not give any reason for the decline, she, however, called for more commitment and synergy between stakeholders.
A breakdown of the disbursement shows that the sum of N2,530,406,244.92billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1,945,660,946.13billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4,476,067,191.05billion.
Further distributions to area councils indicates that the Abuja Municipal Area Council received N467,596,505.31million, while Gwagwalada got N470,262,942.36million and Kuje received N409,219,387.28million.
Others include, Bwari Area Council which received N384,085,033.55million, Abaji N401,888, 840.83million and Kwali received N397, 353, 535.59million bringing the total sum to N2,530, 406, 244.92billion disbursed to the six area councils.
Distribution to other stakeholders shows that Primary School Teachers got N1,566,571,879.02billion with 15 percent Pension Funds which took N226,478,989.57 million, one percent Training Fund which gulped N44,760,671.91 million and 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution accounting for N107,849, 405.63million, bringing the total sum to N1,945,660,946.13 billion.
While calling commending the stakeholders for showing understanding in the distribution of monthly allocations, the stressed the need to strengthen institutions that would outlive the present administration.
