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Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory in the National Assembly, Ireti Kingibe, has commissioned the Karu-Ishan road in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
During the commissioning ceremony held over the weekend, Senator Kingibe took the opportunity to clarify her stance towards the current FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
Despite perceived misunderstandings, she expressed no personal grievances and emphasized her readiness to work with all parties for the betterment of the FCT.
Her address highlighted the unique governance structure of the FCT, where the role of the Senator is paramount, given the absence of a Governor.
Kingibe acknowledged the challenges that have arisen due to a lack of synergy between the legislative and executive branches of the FCT’s administration.
However, she reaffirmed her dedication to the constituents, highlighting the importance of prioritizing urgent needs over less critical projects.
She stated, “As a senator, there are numerous initiatives I am eager to pursue, provided our budget allows it. I aim to prioritize, especially the smaller, yet significant, aspects of governance.
“It’s important to recognize that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) operates differently from other regions; here, the highest elected official is the Senator, as opposed to a Governor. Moreover, we only have two representatives in the House of Representatives.
“The division of powers between the executive and the legislature in the FCT is ambiguous and warrants careful examination. Historically, despite the structural issues, previous ministers have acknowledged the legislators as the people’s representatives and collaborated with them to address the populace’s needs, thereby mitigating these systemic flaws.
“Currently, however, there seems to be a disconnect with the minister, who appears to have disregarded the legislature’s role. This neglect has exposed the underlying problems with the FCT’s governance structure. Every minister must recognize that the National Assembly and its members have a supervisory role over their actions. This oversight appears to be the crux of the current contention.
“For instance, the minister proposed allocating a significant sum for the construction of a cultural center, which, in my view, is not a pressing need for the FCT at the moment.
“We are grappling with more urgent issues like insecurity, hunger, lack of access to clean water, inadequate healthcare, and insufficient educational facilities. These are the priorities we must address before we can consider investing in cultural developments, perhaps when we are a more prosperous nation with surplus resources.
“Although there is a disconnect with the minister who appears to have disregarded the legislature’s role, I harbour no personal grievances against the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and remain open to collaboration, should he decide to work alongside the National Assembly to genuinely address the critical needs of the FCT.
“I remain committed to working with all parties to address the needs of the people, prioritizing security, hunger, water, hospitals, and schools.”
Senator Kingibe also discussed her personal initiatives and the progress made during her time in office.
She highlighted the completed Karu-Ishan road project as a testament to her insistence on completion and accountability.
Furthermore, she shared her ongoing efforts to support the youth and women of the FCT, such as securing employment slots and planning to empower 100 individuals with capital for small businesses, as well as funding JAMB registration for 2,000 youths.
Kingibe also addressed her constituents, emphasizing that communication through structured requests is more efficient for organizing empowerment efforts.
“In the few months since I took office, we received 42 requests, and 34 have been incorporated into our budget,” she disclosed.
