By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has promised to address concerns over the remuneration of area council councillors and intervene in the completion of abandoned road projects across the territory.
Wike gave the assurances on Monday, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where he also called for greater participation of women in local governance.
He expressed concern that only two of the FCT’s 62 councillors were women and urged political leaders to create more opportunities for women in the council system.
The minister acknowledged complaints about councillors’ remuneration and promised to take steps to address them. The councillors had called for a salary review, saying their earnings had remained unchanged for about 19 years.
On infrastructure, Wike said work would soon resume on the abandoned Kwaita-Yebu road after the FCT Administration cancelled the previous contract over the contractor’s lack of capacity.
He also promised to intervene in the construction of the Ebbo Bridge, which links Abaji and Kuje area councils.
The Executive Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Nuhu Daniel Kwali, commended the minister for infrastructure projects and the appointment of residents to positions in the FCT Administration.
He also welcomed Wike’s support for gender inclusion, particularly the appointment of the council’s first female vice-chairperson.
The FCT chairmen of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanko Yamawo and Mohammed Dogara, also commended the minister for promoting cooperation among political stakeholders.
Similarly, the Etsu of Kwali, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, praised the FCT Administration for infrastructure development, youth empowerment and recognition of traditional institutions.
He said the projects had addressed some concerns raised by residents and urged the administration to sustain attention to their needs.
Representing women in the Rainbow Coalition in Kwali, Abigael Etsu thanked the minister for appointing residents to government positions but called for greater participation of women in governance.
The councillors also appealed for improved welfare, citing their low salaries and the long period without a review.
Meanwhile, the President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly of the Rainbow Coalition Movement, Aliyu Daniel Bakna Kwali, called for increased representation of the FCT in the National Assembly.
He argued that the territory’s population was not adequately reflected in its current number of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.
