The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he is not popular among civil servants because he has blocked avenues for the diversion of public funds.
Wike made the revelation during his monthly media chat on the state of the nation in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, some funds previously diverted by civil servants are now being channelled into productive projects, particularly road construction.
“We waste our resources on frivolities,” the minister stated. He cited the example of requests for funds to attend international conferences, such as one on land administration in America, which he refused to approve.
“How do you encourage me to sign N20 million to travel to America for a conference of one week for land administration? I won’t do that,” Wike said.
He explained that before his arrival, about 65 percent of the FCT budget went to recurrent expenditure.
He reversed this priority, directing 70 percent to capital expenditure and 30 percent to recurrent.“Some people say conferences for corruption… These are ways government funds are being diverted. I say put this money in this road here and the people will get the impact,” he added.
Wike concluded that this stance explains why he may not be liked by some civil servants. “If you ask anybody today, one Minister they won’t like is me. Why? Those money for conferences, I put the money together for roads.”
The minister has consistently emphasised fiscal discipline and infrastructure development in the FCT since assuming office.
