Works Ministry receives only 46.23% of 2014 budget, says out-going Perm-Sec

By Miriam Humbe

Out-going Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Dr. Abubakar Muhammed, has said that only about 46.23per cent of the total budget of 2014 for the ministry has been released from the federation account.

Abubakar who made the disclosure during the hand-over ceremony for the in-coming Permanent Secretary, Mr. Daudu Kigbu at the weekend also said that the overhead cost so far released was about 58.7per cent.

According to him, in the 2014 budget the ministry had a capital allocation of about N98.8bn, and that the total overhead allocation was N436m.

“But, we are into the fourth quarter now, the capital released so far for the first, second and third quarters is a total of N45.6bn, which is the capital released, and that translates to about 46.23per cent of the total amount of the year.

“This is fourth quarter, so we are talking about 46.23 percent of the released. So, you can see even from there, the performance of the ministry. It may also please you to note that the ministry received a monthly allocation overhead cost of N26m only.

“Currently, there are 183 ongoing highway projects and this amount to N1.47trn, these projects are spread in all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. There are 61 numbers of completed road projects, some of them are awaiting commissioning,” Muhammed noted.

He explained that about 83 federal highway roads were ongoing, adding that the ministry has equally benefited from the Sure-P funding in completing Abuja-Lokoja Expressway Road and Loko- Aweto Bridge along Nasarawa State Road.

He therefore, advised the incoming Permanent Secretary to collaborate with the directors of the ministry to achieve forge ahead, even as he solicited support of the staff to sustain the ongoing reforms of government in the road sector.

On his part, Kigbu, assured the directors of his willingness to work with them closely to record more success in the road sector.