The Federal Character Commission (FCC) on Monday in Abuja defended its year 2020 budget proposal of N2.9 billion before members of the National Assembly.
Mr Abdullahi Shinkafi, the Executive Chairman of FCC during the budget defense before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, said “the commission’s budget for 2020 fiscal year stands at N2.995,152,781.00
“Personnel Cost is N2.390,693,169.00, overhead cost is N372, 635, 538.00, and capital cost is N231,824, 047.00.
“The personnel cost is for the payment of salaries and allowances of the executive chairman, 37 honourable members of the commission, secretary to the commission and 1, 189 staffers.
“Based on our assessment, the commission submitted a proposal of N975, 714,078.90 as overhead, but was advised to confine itself to the limit of N372, 635, 538.00 which is exactly last year’s figure.
“Distinguished Senators, considering our spread and coverage, this amount is inadequate for the effective profession of the commission’s mandate nationwide.
“However, in continuation of the commission’s ongoing project, one new state office shall be constructed in Rivers and the sum of N55, 120, 000.00 is proposed for the project.
“The sum N35, 000, 000.00 is proposed for the general renovation of FCC Headquarters and its Edo and Kogi offices,” Shinkafi said.
He added that the first first phase of automation of manual data processing activities of the 37 state offices would cost the commission N20,190, 502. 00.
Shinkafi further explained that the Virtual Private Networking enabled state offices to exchange data and information through secure channel.
“It is also for integrating the 37 state offices’ hard copy data into the commission’s database,” he stated.
He said that other works that would be carried out are inspection and evaluation of projects and programmes, sensitisation on socio-economic amenities and infrastructural facilities, partnership, as well as advocacy, among others.
Shinkafi was represented by the secretary to the commission, Mr Mohammed Tukur.
In his response, the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Danjuma La’ah advised the commission to be diligent in all it did.
He said that the committee would do everything within its power to ensure that the commission was empowered to carry out its mandate.
“However, whenever we find any agency wanting, we will invite them to come and sit with us so that we can resolve issues.
“Whatever I say represents the position of the committee and that of the Senate. We are here to protect the image of everybody and not to witch-hunt anyone,” La’ah stressed.
A member of the committee, Sen. Obinna Ogba observed that the commission had been doing so well in carrying out its constitutional responsibility.
Ogba, however, said that the commission needed to be assisted with funds.
He stressed that from the commission’s presentation, it was clear that the budgeted amount would not bring about significant change in the growth of the commission.
He then urged the chairman of the committee to assist the commission so that it would be able to carry out its mandate.
The 2019 budget of the commission was N2.3 billion.
