By Sarah NEGEDU
Statutory allocation to the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory and other stakeholders, dropped in three consecutive months, to reach N3,668,506,659.36billion by December 2021.
The last quarter of the year witnessed a steady decline in revenue allocation from the N4.47billion shared in October, to N3,726,007,503.49billion disbursed in the month of November, down to the N3,668,506,659.36billion distributed in December.
The Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, at the end of the Joint Account Allocation Committee held last week, said the decline in revenue between November and December represents about 1.54 percent decrease.
Recall that allocations to the territory had risen by almost 50percent at the end of the first half of 2021, from the N2.6billion distributed in June, to over N4.1billion in July.
The tempo was also sustained through the third quarter of the year rising from N4.504billion in August, to N4.726billion in September and up to N4,476billion by October 2021, before the decline recorded in the last quarter of the year.
Though the minister did not give reasons for the slump, she however commended all stakeholders for their cooperation despite challenges recorded in the past.
Figures from the 161st JAAC meeting indicated that the sum of N1,615,340,273.24billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N2,053,166,386.12billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N3,668,506,659.36billion.
Giving further breakdown of the distributions to area councils, the minister disclosed that the Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC, received N328,034,790.92million, while Gwagwalada got N284, 273, 669.49million and Kuje received N259,674,786.45million.
Other area councils include, Bwari Area Council received N250,649,903.10million, Abaji got N250,646,804.73million and Kwali received N242,060,318.55million bringing the total sum to N1,668,506,659.36billion disbursed to the six area councils.
Meanwhile, distribution to other stakeholders suggest that primary school teachers received a total of N1,682,152,924.31billion, representing15 percent of the allocation, while Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57 million, which is one percent of December allocation. Training Fund also gulped N36,685,066.61million, which is10 percent of the total sum. Employer Pension Contribution also gulped N107,849,405.63million, bringing the total sum to N2,053,166,386.12billion.
The minister, however, used the occasion to harp on the ongoing FCT primary school teachers strike over the nonpayment of promotion arrears since 2013, stressing that the arrears predate the present administration.
She assured members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers that a workable template has been put in place to offset the debts for over a period of time, adding that a 7-Man committee would be set up to look at the operation of the template.
According to her, “our primary school teachers are at home over the nonpayment of their arrears that predates this administration. However, the quality of a good leader is to take responsibility, and we must work out ways to resolve this protracted issue. Workable template to offset the debts over a period of time has been put in place, and a seven-man committee to look into the operation of the template will be set up.”
While calling for more commitment and synergy on the part of all stakeholders, the minister however commended them for showing understanding in the distribution of monthly allocation to area councils and other stakeholders.
