By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has disclosed the reason why FCT Internally generated revenue moved from about ₦9 billion to over ₦40 billion monthly, a change which he attributed to different reforms carried out by the administration under his leadership.
Wike who stated this in Abuja on Thursday during an interview with journalists also added that the massive revenue jump was a result of deliberate efforts made by his administration by blocking leakages and aggressively collect land-related revenues like ground rents and Certificate of Occupancy.
According to the minister, the improved revenue has enabled the FCT Administration to execute infrastructure projects and enhance service delivery across Abuja.
“When we came on board, our IGR was a mere ₦9 billion a month, but as I speak to you today, we’ve been able to improve it to forty-something billion. So when people now say, ‘Oh, FCT is working, FCT is working,’ it’s working because somebody has made it to work,” Wike said.
He maintained that the rise in internally generated revenue did not happen by chance but was driven by policy reforms and administrative measures implemented since he took office.
The minister noted that the increase in revenue has provided the resources needed to fund ongoing development projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike also stressed that effective leadership, accountability and efficient management of public resources were critical to achieving tangible results in governance.
He added that the progress recorded in the FCT demonstrates what can be achieved through focused leadership and sustained efforts to improve public sector performance
