‘Why I’m succeeding as FCT Minister’ – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given the reason why he is succeeding at the nation’s capital.

The Minister spoke during his routine inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the capital city on Tuesday.

Project sites visited by the minister included the official residence of the Vice President, the outer southern Expressway from Villa roundabout to Ring Road I, and the B6 and B12 road projects.

Wike also said he was very impressed with the quality of work being done by the contractors, insisting that the people deserve the best.

Wike said his success is tied to the fact that he tries to pay the contractors as soon as possible to discourage the possibility of contract variations.

Advertisement

“We don’t allow variation because we always try to pay when it is due, so the issue of variation does not come in. I know every contractor would want to have their money as quickly as possible.

“So, there is this trust in us that we are going to pay, and we have been paying. Whatever funds we have gotten, we try to pay them without wasting time, and that’s why we are succeeding,” he explained.

The minister, however, used the opportunity to call on FCT residents to pay their taxes and ground rents, saying that the government relies heavily on tax revenue to finance infrastructure projects.

“Again, they want roads, they want a good environment, and they want light everywhere. The government does not print money. The government is to tax people and then use that money to improve the area. So, I will always plead with everybody that they should try as much as possible to pay their ground rent.

“We will always plead with everybody that they should try as much as possible to pay their ground rent. We have published the last set; for those who are still owning the one from 2023, we gave them until the 14th of December last year. But we are humans, and we believe that things may not be as good as people expect. So, we have extended it for another two weeks, after which we have no choice but to revoke the title document if you don’t pay,” Wike said.