25th September, 2017
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello says satellite towns and rural areas in the FCT will witness massive infrastructural development in the next two years.
Bello made this promise at the inauguration of the newly appointed Mandate Secretaries, Chief of Staff and other Senior Political Aides of the administration on Monday in Abuja.
Bello said from the time he assumed office to date many abandoned construction sites have become alive while many jobs have been saved and the economy has been bolstered.
He said the reform the administration embarked upon has started yielding huge results as resources have been harnessed for development.
“In this respect, we have paid substantially to both local and foreign contractors. These contractors have been mobilized to sites.
“Many major infrastructure projects are either completed or have been brought to the stage where they were opened for public use.
“Another outstanding achievement of the reforms has been the improvement in the confidence and quality of input of FCTA civil servants,’’ he said.
He assured residents that the administration has built the capacity of the staff to drive administrative process.
The minister said the workforce is much more robust, confident and prepared administratively to work and advance the fortunes of the territory.
To the appointees, Bello said their appointment signal the commencement of the next phase of the administration’s development initiative.
“I would like to underscore the urgency and enormity of the work for the restoration and renewal of the vision of the founding fathers including restoration of Abuja Master Plan.
“As you take the oath of office, you must keep in mind the commitment of this administration to deliver a secure environment and observe zero-tolerance to corruption,’’ he added.
Bello urged them to be involved in the overriding need for security of lives and property as well as ensuring that government is alive and effective communication.
“I invite you to immediately get fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of the administration.
You should also familiarise yourselves with basic public service rules and government procurement guidelines.
“As you take office, you must embrace the values of team work and effective communication.
“We are also aim to achieve one-stop shopping centre for the administration’s services, especially in the area of revenue generation,’’ he said.
According to him, the administration is committed to running a lean and effective public service that avoids waste and conserves resources.
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“The overriding task is that of achieving
a self-funding administration and an economy capable of providing employment to our teeming youth.
“Indeed, dwindling finances and gross infrastructural decay in the FCT has made this imperative,’’ he said.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the FCT, Permanent Secretary, Mr Christian Ohaa said the appointment is part of the ongoing effort by the minister to reposition, reinvigorate and setting machineries of the FCT administration to enhance speed of action and productivity.
He said the newly appointees had been consider worthy to serve the FCT administration and by extension the nation.
“Let me remind you that I don’t have doubt that you will discharge the functions and will also be able to contribute immensely to the secretariats, departments and the agencies under you,’’ he said.
The Senate Chairman Committee of the FCT, Sen. Dino Melaye also called on the appointees to work towards achieving mandate set by the present administration by contributing their quota to develop the city.
He assured that the National Assembly will support FCT administration in passing the appropriation for faster development.
Responding, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Mohammad Mai-Bornu assured the administration of the unflinching support by the appointees, adding that they are ready to work.
“We are aware of the enormous work ahead of us; we believe we will deliver especially in delivering on Change Agenda of the present administration.
“We will do our best to be part of the success story of the administration in terms of accountability, probity and diligence,’’ he said. Those appointed and sworn-in as Secretaries are: Adamu Abubakar Bappah – Area Council Services, Nzekwe Stanley Ifeanyichukwu – Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Isa Maina – Education, Amanda Pam – Health and Human Services, Muhammad B. Umar – Legal Services, Oladimeji Ali Hassan – Social Development; and Kayode Opeifa – Transportation.
Others are the Coordinators of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Satellite Town Development Department are Umar Shuaibu and Isiyaku Tanko Yamawo respectively while the Managing Director of Abuja Broadcasting Services is Ibrahim Damisa.
Similarly, Political Aides include: Mohammad Mai-Bornu – Chief of Staff to the Minister, Dr. Bala Mohammed Liman – Senior Special Assistant, Finance and Economic Matters Olafusi Emmanuel Tosin – Senior Special Assistant, Legal and Multi-lateral Cooperation; and Abubakar Muh’d Abdullahi – Senior Special Assistant, ICT.
In the same vein the following Advisers on Community Relations were sworn-in they are Chika Alexander Nwatu, Abu Zarr Sulaiman Ribadu and Isa Dara Bwari.