Abuja administration increases revenue by 27 percent

The FCT administration made 24 billion naira in 2011.

Abuja administration increases revenue by 27 percent.
Godwin Ukaa, Abuja

The Administration of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has increased its internally generated revenue in 2011 to about N24 billion and promised that it will be improved upon this fiscal year.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed made this disclosure on in Abuja in an interactive session with some media chiefs.

The Minister said it was achieved because of the aggressive measures adopted and reforms embarked upon by his administration in the land sub-sector.

Senator Mohammed remarked that the reform embarked upon was to reposition the land sector to conform to global practices thereby blocking all leakages.

The Minister also assured that the FCT Administration is not in conflict with the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) in anyway; noting that the establishment of the FCT Internal Revenue Board is to assist the government mop up diverse untapped revenue sources laying fallow in the Territory.

According to him, there are areas like water bills, environment bills and many more that are not under the purview of the Federal Inland Revenue Services constitutionally but needs to be collected to boost the FCT revenue and by extension, improving on its services to the residents.

He restated that most of these areas are not under the jurisdiction of the FIRS and must be collected to assist in improving the modern municipal administration like Abuja.

Property tax

The Minister said that the FCT Property Tax will soon be passed by the National Assembly and will simultaneously take care of property tax and tenement rate being sought by the Area Councils.

Senator Mohammed revealed that when the Property Tax is collected the FCT Administration and the Area Councils will sit and share in accordance with extant rules; stressing that FCT Administration is among the few in the 36 States of the federation and FCT that releases 100% funds accruing from Federation Account to the Area Councils.

He reassured that his administration and indeed the government of President Goodluck Jonathan will take Abuja to a level where it will not rely on budgetary provisions and be able to fend for itself.

The Minister lamented the high cost of rent in the Federal Capital Territory and that law is underway to regulate the activities of the landlords.

He added that in the advanced countries of the World, tenants pay rent for one year, six months and even two weeks or one week and wondered why landlords in Abuja charge two years of rent at a go.

The Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration will soon have a policy shift of embracing integration with urban renewal where existing Abuja natives residing in the Federal Capital City are taken care of.

Senator Mohammed emphasized that this new policy will allow investors come in to pay for land where the natives are presently occupying and utilize the funds realized from the sales to resettle them within the Territory.

The Minister also revealed that the World Bank is working on financing 24 overhead bridges in the Federal Capital City to assist pedestrians cross the ever busy roads.

He promised that such interactive sessions will be organized periodically to carry members of the fourth estate of the realm along, especially by unveiling his Road Map in FCT.

Ugo