FCT MINISTER CLARIFIES FCTA-FCDA RELATIONSHIP, UNVEILS PLANS FOR FCT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

By: Wisdom Acka

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has cleared misconceptions about the relationship between the FCT Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), describing the latter as a “child” of the former.

The Minister clarified this during a visit by the FCDA management team led by its Acting Executive Secretary, Engineer Richard Yunana Dauda, to mark the FCT’s 50th anniversary.

Wike emphasized that the FCDA is a subsidiary entity created solely for the “development and planning” of the FCT, not an independent agency.

“People mistake FCDA for FCTA. Without the FCT, there would be no FCDA,” he stated, noting that his authority to approve FCDA staff promotions underscores this hierarchy, adding: “The FCT Minister chairs the FCDA board to avoid conflicts. Let’s correct this impression,” he advised.

While acknowledging the significance of the FCT’s golden jubilee, the Minister revealed plans to merge its commemoration with President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office later in 2026.

“I didn’t want to overshadow Mr. President’s milestone,” he explained, hinting at a compendium of achievements to be launched during the event.

He praised President Tinubu for the groundbreaking reforms, including establishing the FCT Civil Service Commission, which he said has “restored hope” for career progression among workers.

The Minister credited the administration’s recent infrastructure strides to Tinubu’s decision to exempt the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), enabling direct revenue access.

He said, “Before, banks couldn’t lend to us because our funds were locked in the CBN. Now, we can leverage our IGR for projects,” Wike said, citing ongoing rural road projects like the Tudun Madaki-Zuba corridor as evidence of “government’s impact reaching neglected communities.”

Wike lauded Engr. Dauda’s leadership, attributing the FCDA’s efficiency to his alignment with the administration’s vision. “If you weren’t up and doing, you wouldn’t be here,” he remarked, urging continued diligence.

He also cautioned against trivial grievances, referencing a recent strike over an inter-staff dispute as “petty issues the Head of Service should handle.”

Wike vowed to prioritize rural infrastructure, expressing dismay at the neglect of communities like Tudun Madaki. “How can people feel the government exists if they lack basic roads? He asked, promising more projects to “open up villages” through partnerships.