Standup9ja: Reps query FCTA over N3bn official houses

Standup9ja: Reps query FCTA over N3bn official houses

A House of Representatives committee yesterday queried the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over plans to build 40 units of houses for top government officials despite the monetization policy.

The 40 units of houses were to be built at a cost of N3 billion as contained in the FCTA’s 2017 budget proposal.

The committee on FCT, chaired by Herman Hembe (APC, Benue), said during a budget defence session with the permanent secretary in the ministry, Babatope Ajakaiye, that it would not accept such double standards.

The lawmakers said elected officials are living in rented apartments; no appointed government official should stay in official residence.

“When government comes up with a policy, it should follow it up. When you begin to build houses for ministers, permanent secretaries and directors, are they above the members of the National Assembly? If you want to move for monetization, it should be complete. I think it was wrong to sell the houses in the first place,” Hembe said.

The lawmaker added that, “This kind of thing may be very difficult to pass on the floor of the House. You can’t push for building houses. I remember at some point, they wanted to sell the vice president’s house.”

Responding, the permanent secretary said government felt it should build accommodations for certain category of officers, despite the monetization policy, saying the quarters would serve as safe houses.