Reps Want Additional Mandate Secretaries For FCT

The House of Representatives has called for the appointment of additional Mandate Secretaries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to represent Area Councils in the Territory adequately.

Specifically, the Green Chamber urged the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to appoint at least six additional Mandate Secretaries to enhance good governance and effective service delivery within the territory.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon Joshua Chinedu Obika (LP, FCT) at the plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Obika said Mandate Secretaries are high-level Administrative Officials appointed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to oversee specific areas of governance within the FCT, such as the Ministers in the Federal Executive Council and Commissioners in the State Executive Council.

He noted that Section 299 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides that the Federal Capital Territory Abuja shall be treated as one of the States of the Federation for participation in the nation’s economic, political and social activities.

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According to the lawmakers, the President, through the FCT Minister, appoints Mandate Secretaries to administer the Federal Capital Territory. Those appointments reflect the country‘s geopolitical zones only.

Obika observed that the Federal Executive Council and the State Executive Council have State and Local Government Representation, respectively, in their cabinets, which became necessary for FCT to be treated as if it were a State and should have Area Council Committee Representatives in the
Territory.

He expressed concern that; „the current number of Mandate Secretaries may not be sufficient to meet the growing administrative tasks and governance needs of the rapidly expanding FCT population and development as well as give a sense of inclusivity to the people of the territory.

Additional Mandate Secretaries will enhance good governance, service delivery and adequate representation of Federal Capital Territory’s people in policy coordination and implementation at the grassroots.“