The House of Representatives has disclosed plans to trim the recurrent expenditure in the 2012 budget proposal of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
This is part of measures to ensure accelerated infrastructural development in the FCT.
The Chairman, House of Representatives committee on the FCT, Hon Emmanuel Jime (PDP Benue), disclosed this yesterday, in a goodwill message at the launch of the FCTA Assisted Public Mass Transit.
Though he was not specific about the figures, he said that this was necessary to ensure that the capital budget kicks off and said, “We have already began the process of looking at the 2012 appropriation bill as far as the FCT is concerned and our greatest duty which I think we must bequeath the residents of the FCT is to ensure that we cut down on excesses in the recurrent expenditure in a way that capital expenditure can begin to work.
“Therefore, this is our commitment and our promise and I think working together with the FCT administration, this is achievable and we are certainly going to deliver.”
Jime also stressed the need for the timely completion of the Abuja Light Rail project and development of other infrastructure if the government must be seen to be delivering good governance to the people.
“I believe that if we are serious about moving our economy forward. I believe that if we are serious about decongesting the Abuja city centre in such a way that traffic can begin to move smoothly, then the Abuja Light Rail is key. And so I take seriously the promise of the minister that come 2013, the first railway will move from Karu to the centre of the city.