A new dimension has been added to the agitation of groups in the National Conference, as stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday demanded for the establishment of a state Assembly that would make laws and legislate on matters affecting the territory.
The creation of a legislative house for Abuja, was one of the request made by FCT delegation to the National Advisory Committee on National Dialogue Wednesday, in Abuja.
Chairman, FCT Steering Committee on National Dialogue, Dr, Aliyu Modibbo Umar who presented the position of the FCT people, said that the Legislative Organ when established would ensure better efficiency in the administration of the 37 year old territory.
Umar said the National Assembly is preoccupied with diverse national issues, which hardly leaves it with enough time to legislate effectively on matters concerning the territory.
He also said that the FCT people want fixed tenure of not less than four years for the office of the FCT Minister, who should be called an ‘Administrator’ .
He argued that since the FCT Minister is like a State Governor who administers a Territory needs sufficient time to plan and implement policies and projects.
He said the Abuja Project was supposed to have been completed within 25 years but 37th year after the level of development is still at 25 percent due to inadequate funding.
The Chairman of the FCT Advisory committee therefore, said that 5 percent of the total revenue accruing to the Federal Government should be allocated to FCT through the consolidated account.
The FCT reiterated that the present funding arrangement for the Territory is grossly inadequate and needs to be reviewed.
According to the recommendations: “We suggest that the FCT should be restored as a Federation Project and be funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund by allocating 5 percent of the funds to FCT”.
The FCT also wants a fixed tenure of not less than four years for the office of the FCT Minister, who should be addressed as ‘Administrator’ since the Minister is like a State Governor who administers a Territory and therefore needs sufficient time to plan and implement policies and projects.
The FCT further stressed the need to bring the FCT Judiciary under the FCT Political and Administrative structure to reflect what is obtainable in the various states of the Federation.
It was suggested that pending issues of Resettlement and Compensation should be resolved to avoid feelings of marginalization and insecurity in the Territory.
While the FCT commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the bold step taken to convene a National Dialogue with a view to addressing the unity, stability and progress of Nigeria, it further suggested that the National Dialogue should be through a combined process of nomination and selection with a total of 500 delegates as participants.