Bala threatens to disband CSD project team over non-remittance of 90% benefit

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has threatened to disband the team of World Bank backed Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) in the territory, if it fails to provide 90 percent increased fund for community development.

He said the administration has released the sum of N100 million as FCT’s counterpart fund to the project; decrying the World Bank failure to present the 90 percent increased fund.

He therefore warned that the World Bank team may be disbanded if it cannot live up to its side of the bargain of the 90 percent benefit as FCTA has done enough according to the agreement.

The minister, who made this point yesterday while inaugurating the Board of Directors for FCT CSDP, in his office, said though CSDP is a World Bank driven grassroots empowerment intervention initiative, it is in tandem with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are not going to give any counterpart funding until we have received from the World Bank. We have already giving N100 million as a counterpart funding managed by the board.

“World Bank is expected to give us 90 percent of our contribution they have not given us much, we need the board to do more in this direction” or be “disbanded,” he stressed.

Stressing the need for cooperation of the area councils, the minister said the council chairmen have no excuse not to touch the lives of the people.

According to the minister, he carefully nominated and approved 12-Member Board to help uplift the standard of living of especially those at the rural communities.

The minister urged the committee to approach their assignment with a sense of responsibility and fear of God, saying; “You must be fair and equitable in the allocation of these projects. Make sure that the 800 and something communities are touched.”

Earlier, Chairman of the Board, Etsu of Achara, Alh. Useni Salisu Achara, had pointed  out that one of the challenges facing the project is non-release of FCT approved counterpart funding, which delays the successful implementation of the micro projects.

He therefore urged FCTA to pay up the N400 million its counterpart funding budgeted for this project as the CSDP is yet to receive it.

“Though N400 million has been budgeted by the FCT for the project, we are yet to receive the money. There is need to expedite action,” he said.

Members of the Board include Salisu Kallamu (DAF, FCT SDS); Jummai Yunana; Women Leader; Abdulsalam Yahaya (DAF, FCT ACSS); Ari Isa Mohammed; (Director, FCT EPRS); Yakassai Ado Uba (DAF FCDA); Ibrahim Bomai (Director, FCT Treasury); Zaka Sunday, (Youth Leader); Hajiya Habiba Sule (CSO); Sam Ogbueifu, (Chairman, FCT Press Corps); while Arabi Tukur, the General Manager, CSDP is member/Secretary.

Peoples Daily reports that the CSDP project is a World Bank driven community development programme which came into existence on July 1, 2013, to develop, implement and monitor micro social infrastructures projects, aimed at improving the standard of living of the rural communities.