Statutory allocation: Area Councils, stakeholders share N4.1bn for March

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has disbursed a total sum of N4,180,797,272.22 billion to the six Area Councils in the FCT and other stakeholders as its share of statutory allocation for the month of March 2021.

Making this disclosure, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who presided over the 152nd Joint Area Councils Allocation Committee (JAAC), said there was an increase of over N444 million when compared to February 2021 allocation.

Aliyu revealed that in the month of February, the total sum of N3,736, 038, 550.20 billion was disbursed to the six area councils and other stakeholders, while the sum of N4,180,797,272.22   billion was allocated to the six area councils and other stakeholders for the month of March, 2021.

She explained that the increase in the allocation was as a result of increase in the statutory revenue allocation from the federation account.

According to a statement from the

Special Adviser on Media to the FCT Minister of State, Austine Elemue, yesterday, the sum of N2,494,685,268.15 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1,686,112, 004.07 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4,180,797,272.22 billion.

However, distribution to area councils shows that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), received N462,997,833.34 million, while Gwagwalada got N440,752, 506.01 million and Kuje received N395,560, 630.68 million.

Similarly, Bwari Area Council received N395,076,462.20 million, Abaji got N400,772, 396.88 million and Kwali received N399, 525, 439,.04 million.

Furthermore, distribution to other stakeholders include: Primary Teachers which gulped N1, 309, 975, 636.14 billion, 15 percent Pension Funds took N226, 478, 989.57 million, One percent Training Fund gulped N41, 807, 972.73 million, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution gulped N107,849,405.63 mimillion.

The Minister, who used the occasion to call on members of local government employees to shelve their proposed industrial action assured the leadership of the union that all the six area council chairmen are committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage to workers.

She also advocated for training of area council staff with a view to harmonizing the salary structures of staff, stressing that the disparity identified during the verification exercise should be harmonized.

The Minister commended all the stakeholders for showing understanding in the distribution of monthly allocation to area councils and other stakeholders.