N10bn debt: FCTA shuts Fed Ministry of Works, FCC, others
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has shut the premises of the Federal Ministry of Works, Merit House Maitama and Murg Plaza, Federal Character Commission, FCC; in Abuja over a N10 billion debt owed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB.
While speaking to newsmen, Director of the board, Osilama Braimah explained that the board waste management and other environmental management services for the clients but they refuse to fulfill their obligation of payment.
He narrated that the clients owed the board huge amount of without efforts to pay.
“We try to negotiate to have a better way to achieve results but there was no positive response. We have given them a payment plan but many of them refused to take this opportunity serious, and so the board then resorted to legal means to recover the debts. The board got court orders to seal the premises,” he said.
He revealed that the exercise, will cut across all public and private offices owing the board.
The defendants had been served the summons to appear before a senior magistrate court sitting in Wuse II on March 30, 2022, but equally failed to respect the summons.
A detailed break down of the debts showed that the Federal Ministry of Defence, N17,220,775; Federal Ministry of Education owes N25,838,275; and Federal Character Commission, N10,128,906.25.
Others include the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, N21,683, 750, Federal Ministry of Health N14,204,843.75; Federal Ministry of Works, N9,998,625 Civil Service Commission, N2,451,649.50; Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment N19,222,287.50; and FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, N16,583,031.25.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr Attah Ikharo who spearhead the enforcement team said the decision followed the thought put together by the Minister of FCT and the Permanent Secretary to regain the huge debts owed the board by the clients.
“The FCT Administration needs enough fund to build infrastructure and keep the city running. The Administration has decided to go after the Ministries, parastatals, agencies and private individuals.
“We cannot wait to see government’s money tied down. It is wrong for people not to pay for services rendered,” he said.
Source: The Informant247 Naija News
