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FCTA seals Ministry of Works, Federal Character Commission, others over N10b Debt
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Character Commission and Merit House Maitama over N10 billion waste collection debt owed Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
Addressing journalists during the exercise on Tuesday, the Director of AEPB, Mr Osilama Briamah, said the board provided waste management and other environmental services for their service providers and they refused to pay.
In his words, “We try to negotiate to have a better way to achieve results but there was no positive response, we have given them payment plan but many of them refused to take this opportunity serious.
“The board then resorted to legal means to recover the debts. The board obtained court orders to seal the premises.
“The exercise which has just begun will cover all public and private offices owing the board.’’
It was gathered that a senior magistrate court sitting in Wuse II, Abuja had served the defendants with summons to appear before the court on March 30, but they failed to honour the court.
The breakdown of the debts showed that the Federal Ministry of Education owed N25,838,275, Federal Ministry of Defense –N17,220,775.00 and Federal Character Commission, N10,128,906.25.
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Others include Civil Service Commission-N2,451,649.50, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, N21,683,750.00, Federal Ministry of Health N14,204,843.75.
Also owing are; Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, N19,222,287.50, Federal Ministry of Works, N9,998,625.00 and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Wuse,N16,583,031.25.
Speaking, Mr Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, said the operation followed the initiative put together by the FCT Minister and the FCTA Permanent Secretary to recover debts owed the board.
Attah stated that the FCT Administration was worried about the huge amount being owed FCTA.
“FCT Administration needs enough funds to build infrastructure and keep the city running. The administration has decided to go after the Ministries, Parastatal Agencies and Private individuals.
“We cannot wait to see government money tie down, it is wrong for people not to pay for services rendered,” he said.
(NAN)
