FCT’s controversial budget and people’s expectations

Budgets  have  been a source of conflict between the Legislature and the Executive especially in Nigeria. In this piece, Oluwole Josiah posits that the N4bn set aside for the construction of a First Ladies Mission House, in Abuja, is a litmus test for the appropriation of powers of the Senate.


Senator Domingo Obende represents Edo North in the Senate. Although little known in Nigeria’s political circles, he shot into limelight within 20 months as a member of the Upper Legislative Chamber, when he sponsored a bill on the prohibition of same sex marriage.

As Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, he was confronted with the burden of defending public expenditure proposals contained in FCT’S 2013 Appropriation Bill, when it came up for deliberations at the Senate, last week.

One of the items that generated a lot of interest among lawmakers and Nigerians alike, was a proposal to spend N4bn on a “befitting” African First Ladies Mission House.

While considering the general principles of the budget during its second reading, Senators took turns to denounce this proposal as inappropriate and a clear case of a  “misplaced priority.”

Opposition to this provision made little sense to Obende, as he rose in its defence. He argued that the mission house would serve as an international centre for African First Ladies, complete with a conference centre and meeting rooms for hosting humanitarian events for the benefit of all. He said, “This is not going to be a house for just the First Lady of Nigeria, but it is going to be for (all) African First Ladies.” He also argued that the mission house will outlive the present First Lady, and would continue to serve the good purposes of women across Africa.

While his submission stands as the only rationale for the inclusion of the project in the FCT budget, a large number of  Senators remain unconvinced. In fact, they  considered his explanations as one of the reasons why the item should be expunged.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, had complained to the National Assembly that revenues accruable to the administration had dwindled over the years while critical infrastructures within the city were in dire need of additional funds.

While defending FCTA’s allocation in the national budget last year, Mohammed said his administration was indebted to contractors to the tune of over N26bn for work done on various projects across the city in 2012. He said a total of N46.26bn was appropriated for FCTA in 2012, but that only N37.30bn was released.

He equally told Senators that the N50bn allocated to the ministry  was a far cry from what his administration required to provide infrastructures in the city.

Mohammed stressed the need for intervention funding, through public private partnership initiative and statutory allocation.

It was therefore, a surprise that while the city craves for improved infrastructures and basic amenities, especially in satellite settlements, the FCTA is planning a project that has  little or no benefit to residents of the ever growing city. This, no doubt, formed the fulcrum of Senators’ opposition to the N4bn project.

The late Maryam Babangida, it will be recalled, redefined the office of the First Lady in Nigeria, even though its existence still remains alien to our constitution. As First Lady (1985 -1993), she changed her office from a symbolic to a glamorous one that was sought after.  She did this by opening an office for the First Lady in the Presidency and turning herself into a major influential figure in public life.

Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry, how in 1987, Mrs. Babangida launched the Better Life for Rural Women Programme, bringing in wives of senior state officials, and making wives of military governors chairpersons of the BLP at state level. A replica was also created in local government areas of the federation. Claims that a lot of state resources were channeled through unofficial means to the project have remained undisputed.

It can also be recalled that the late Mrs. Babangida received her husband’s support to establish an edifice in Abuja which she named after herself-Maryam Babangida Centre for Women and Development. It was then suspected that the funding for the edifice came from the public purse.

It was not surprising then that as soon as General Sani Abacha took over, the office of the First Lady took another turn with another Mariam. This time,  Mariam Abacha began the quest for  higher levels of influence. She came with her own programme after dismantling Mrs. Babangida’s  BLP. Her pet project also gulped princely sums out of tax payers’ money. Maryam Babangida Centre for Women and Development was taken over by the state and renamed Women Development Centre.

Justice Fati Abubakar, wife of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for about 12 months that she served as First Lady, toed a different line. Although she established a pet project, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, she was said to have refused to use her husband’s position to get governors and ministers to contribute to the organisation. WRAPA is today reckoned as one of the formidable organisations fighting for the rights of women in Nigeria.

With the advent of democracy in 1999, the late Stella Obasanjo and  her successor, Turai  Yar’Adua, returned Nigeria to the path of using state office to garner support for pet projects.

Patience Jonathan may be taking the quest to drive a pet project to another level as she champions a new project that transcends the shores of Nigeria. Now that she heads the African First Ladies Peace Mission, what could be more glorious than to have the mission house here in Abuja. The logic presented by the Federal Capital Territory Administration portrays this ambition.

In his reaction to criticisms of the project, Mohammed said building the mission house was part of the FCTA’s effort to meet its obligations as well as live up to its international responsibilities by accommodating some international bodies in line with global best practices. He cited the prohibitive cost of rent in Abuja as reason for the decision. He argued that the cost of renting accommodation for some international event is more than N1bn annually.

According  to him, the proposed headquarters of the African First Ladies Peace Mission building is an opportunity to save cost.

Responding to the verbal attacks over the issue by Nigerians, especially members of opposition political parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party rose in defence of the minister.

But Senators most of whom are also members of the ruling party, would have none of it. Although the Appropriation Bill was read the second time and sent to the committee for further legislative work,  Senators appear more favourably disposed to the removal of the provision of the N4bn First Lady’s Mission House.

The FCT budget also boasts of another triviality which is a provision of N150m for the renovation of the Vice-President’s Guest House. The question asked by lawmakers is, if the guest house will be renovated with N150m, what is the cost of building a new house in the Federal Capital Territory?

President of the Senate, David Mark, while commenting on the budget, said FCTA failed to set its priorities right. He said, “It is a matter of getting our priorities right, it is clear that we are not doing that.”

Deputy Leader of the Senate, Abdul Ningi, also described the N4bn mission house and the N150m for the renovation of the VPs Guest House as a misplacement of priority. “This is a misplacement of priority, how can we have N4bn for a  house for first ladies. The N150m for the renovation of guest house of the Vice President shows that we are getting things wrong,” he said.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu,  also agreed with the Deputy Leader, saying that the projects outlined for execution in the budget did not address the basic needs of residents of the territory.

Ojodu said, “It will not benefit Nigerians.  In a situation where there is no light,  no jobs for Nigerians, no roads and we are budgeting over N4bn for a mission house for first ladies. Nigerians will not take it lightly.”

Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, in her submission, said, “Funds given to non-Nigerian projects such as the N4bn for the first ladies mission house, is not necessary.  It is a misplaced priority.”

Speaking so vociferously on the floor of the Senate against the items in the budget is not enough. In budgeting, the actual work is done at the committee level. During this period, agencies of government are wont to engage the committee in comprehensive lobbying to get the budget passed as they wish.

Now, that this is in the public domain with the attendant outcry by political stakeholders, the Senate should be seen to listen to the voice of the people by rejecting these obnoxious proposals.

The FCTA has failed to demonstrate the direct, immediate and long term  benefits of the construction of a First Ladies Mission House to residents of Abuja and Nigerians in general. Both chambers of the National Assembly have boasted of their powers to alter the proposals of any budget submitted to it. There is no better way of confirming this power than by detoxifying the FCT budget and replacing these ‘offensive’ provisions with people-oriented projects.