The Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of Apo Resettlement Scheme has recommended the establishment of a commission to handle resettlement and compensation matters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The committee also called for the funding of resettlement programmes of the FCT Administration under the National Priority Budget.
The chairman of the Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of Apo Resettlement Scheme, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu, stated this while submitting the committee’s report to the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.
Tsaiyabu noted that the establishment of a commission had become necessary in order to prevent the incessant set up of different committees to handle the resettlement schemes in the FCT.
“The committee recommended that there should be a commission to handle all matters on resettlement and compensation in the FCT. Every issue on resettlement and compensation can be handled by the commission. It would prevent having numerous committees to handle different resettlement and compensation matters,” he said.
He noted that the current funding of resettlement and compensation through statutory budget was inadequate.
“The resettlement and compensation of indigenes cannot satisfactorily be funded under the FCT Administration’s statutory budget. The committee found out that the issue of resettlement and compensation is the business of the Federal Government. It involves huge capital resources, even as it constitutes security problems within the territory.
“The committee recommended that resettlement and compensation should be funded through the National Priority Budget. The FCT Administration has to liaise with the Federal Government to include the resettlement and compensation of original inhabitants of the FCT in its National Priority Budget,” said Tsaiyabu, who is the Director, Administration and Finance of the FCT Area Council Services Secretariat.
Receiving the committee’s report, the FCT Minister of State assured members of the committee and communities that the FCT Administration has the political will to execute the report and use it as a model for subsequent resettlement schemes.
“We can assure you that you will begin to see fundamental changes in the way things are done in resettlement and compensation matters in the FCT. This is democracy at work in line with the transformation agenda of Mr. President.
“The President is transforming Nigeria into a fully democratic society. This is why the participation and involvement of the people in matters that affect them is very critical. The Garki, Apo and Akpajanya communities fully participated in the committee’s report,” she stated.
Akinjide had, on February 14, 2013, inaugurated the Implementation Committee on Apo Resettlement Scheme.
The committee was made up of Director of Urban and Regional Planning, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar; Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Micah Jiba; Director of Security in the FCT, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed; Director of Inspectorate, Planning and Management, Area Council Services Secretariat, Architect J. S. Kaura; Director of Satellite Towns Development Agency, Alhaji Tukur Ibrahim Bakori; Director of Development Control, Mr. Yahaya Yusuf, and Director of Resettlement and Compensation, Mr. Francis Okechukwu.
Other members were Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Resettlement, Mr. Benedict Ogenyi; Director of Lands in the FCT, Alhaji Mainasara Babayo; Special Adviser (Lands) to the Permanent Secretary, Chief Steven Awoniyi; Special Assistant (Lands) to the Minister of the FCT, Alhaji Hussaini Badeggi; Special Assistant (Legal) to the Minister of State for the FCT, Mr. Festus Tsavsar; representative of Public Building, Mr. Momohjimoh Ibrahim; representative of Department of State Service, Mr. Adebowale Sanusi; Deputy Director of Monitoring and Control, Resettlement Department, Alhaji Baba Kura Umar, and Chairman of the FCT Press Corps, Mr. Sam Ogbeifun.
