The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the extension of the Federal Capital Territory 2015 budget to May 31..
This followed the passage of a Bill for an Act to authorise the issuance of N193.865 billion for FCT, sponsored by the House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.
The bill, which scaled through the third reading after the consideration by the Committee of Supply, was adopted by members through a voice vote.
According to the lawmakers, N45.962 billion of the budget is for personnel cost, N33.834 billion for overhead cost and N114.069 billion for capital projects.
Meanwhile, a Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of Mayor Office for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja passed through second reading.
Leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Zaphaniah Jisalo (FCT-PDP), said the establishment of the office of the Mayor of Abuja was long overdue.
Jisalo said the creation of the FCT in 1976 was to ensure rapid development of the territory with a senator and two members of the House of Representatives.
Jisalo added that the FCT was meant to have six area council chairmen, but noted that the territory still required a mayor.
In his contribution, Rep. Jonathan Gaza (Nasarawa-PDP) said the bill would ensure justice to the people of the FCT, if passed and assented to by the executive.
Gaza said: “When we look at the purpose of creating the FCT, it is for justice and fairness.
“Indeed, this bill will bring about that justice.”
Also speaking on the bill, the House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP), expressed the hope that the bill, if allowed to become law, would bring about fairness to the people of the territory.
Ogor said: “We are all aware that in the United Kingdom, we have the mayor of London, who oversees the whole of London.
“The Constitution has provided that the FCT be considered as a state, so for this reason, FCT should be allowed to have a mayor.”
The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, in his remark, said there was little or no need to have a long debate on the motion.
Dogara added that the bill would be referred to the committee on constitutional review for further legislative action.
NAN.
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