By Osaretin Ekiadolor, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has denied media reports suggesting that the sum of N5bn would be spent on rehabilitation of prostitutes and destitutes in the Territory.
Clearing the air on the misinformation, Special Assistant (Media) to the FCT Minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi said the quoted figure of N5bn was a misrepresentation by the reporter.
Nosike said the actual amount for the rehabilitation of destitute and commercial sex workers in the Territory is a schedule of the Social Development Secretariat, SDS which is saddled with wide range of human development issues in the territory.
Even at that, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on media said in a statement made available to journalists that the total budgetary proposal for the 2013 fiscal year of the FCTA-SDS is N4.7bn, about N300m higher than the reported figure of N5bn by the media.
He further explained that the figure captured N931.3 million for Personnel; N1.6billion overhead expenditure and N2.2billion Capital expenditure.
He maintained that the sum of N150million [one hundred and fifty thousand naira] only out of the N4.7bn is for evacuation and rehabilitation of destitute, prostitutes (commercial sex workers) and other vulnerable persons in the FCT,
His words: “the empirical truth is that the entire budget of the Social Development Secretariat for the 2013 fiscal year is N4.7billion only”. It explained that out of this amount, the sum of N931.3 million is for Personnel cost; N1.6billion for overhead expenditure and N2.2billion for Capital expenditure.
Related Story:Party Slams Curious 2013 FCT Budget for First Lady,Sex Workers,Others
Nosike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) pointed out that rehabilitation of destitute and commercial sex workers (prostitutes) is part of the schedule of its Social Development Secretariat.
According to the statement, “The sum of N150million only out of this amount is for evacuation and rehabilitation of destitute, prostitutes (commercial sex workers) and other vulnerable persons, the statement added.
The statement added that: “…we wish to state categorically that the duties of the Social Development Secretariat are quite wide. The mandate of the“Secretariat goes far beyond the task of rehabilitating prostitutes, beggars, hawkers and other groups of destitute in the FCT. The schedule of the Secretariat encompasses improvement of the economic well-being of FCT residents through the implementation of initiatives that help in the empowerment of all vulnerable persons and groups in the FCT.
“It emphasized that part of the mandate of the Social Development Secretariat is to provide succor and nurture for women, youths, children, widows and widowers in the FCT. It listed other duties of the Secretariat to include providing welfare for persons with disability, orphans and the elderly as well as promoting sports and sporting activities and harnessing the culture and tourism in the FCT.
“The Secretariat equally undertakes development of sports facilities and sporting talents hunt as well as management and upgrading sports facilities including the popular Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja.”
It argued that the fact that there are seven departments under the Social Development Secretariat attests to the widespread nature of its mandate which is not restricted to rehabilitating prostitutes and destitute.
It named the departments under the Secretariat as Sports; Arts and Culture; Youths; Tourism; Gender; Welfare; and Administration. The statement said that this fiscal year, 2013, the Secretariat is to commence the building of Community Sports Centres in all the six Area Councils (LGAs) of FCT beginning with Kuje, Kwali and Bwari Area Councils.
“It is ironical that the misleading reports about the budget for Social Development Secretariat are making wrong waves at a time when arrangements are being finalised for the commissioning of the ultra-modern Youth Support Centre at Nyanya in Abuja Municipal Council built by the Secretariat. The centre has facilities for vocational training, ICT training, printing press, 5-a side football pitch, basket ball court and others.
“Finally, we call on all residents of FCT and indeed, the entire law abiding citizens of our country to totally disregard the misleading reports about the 2013 budget of FCT, especially as they pertain to destitute and prostitutes rehabilitation, because they are outright misrepresentation of the facts and figures of the budget,” he stated.
.. Gets Ultra Modern Youth Centre
By Osaretin Ekiadolor
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA is set to commission its ultra modern youth centre, which was constructed to train youths in various skills and vocational courses.
According to the Administration the centre which is fully equipped with modern facilities is aimed at changing the fortunes of less privileged youths as it would provide the platform that would absorb street hawkers to gain requisite skills for their economic empowerment.
Conducting journalists round the centre Sunday, FCT Secretary of Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Onuh who was visibly delighted maintained that the Centre is the first of its kind in Nigeria pledging the administration willingness to maximize its benefits for the development of its youths population.
According to her, the current FCT administration has been very worried over the alarming rate of unemployed youths roaming the street of the FCT which informed the construction of the Centre.
In her words: “The FCTA is greatly pained by the rate of unemployment amongst is youth population which represents its future, part of which informed the development of this centre which is capable of churning out skilled manpower in the areas of ICT, digital printing, welding, carpentry, fishery, fashion designing, artwork etc.”
Onuh who conducted journalist round the ultra modern printing press maintained that the centre to can even generate huge amount of money for the FCT as the youths under training perfect their arts and provide services to members of the public when fully operational and considered along such line.
Mrs. Onuh also stressed that those to be trained at the centre will be in the boarding house which has a fully furnished and equipped five hundred bed hostels.
Some notable features at the centre which would be commission by dame patient Jonathan on Tuesday includes: ultra modern ICT centre, multipurpose hall, workshop premises, classrooms, hostels blocks, basket ball pitch, five aside football pitch, and volley ball courts amongst others.
Onuh encouraged FCT youths to ensure that they take full advantage of the facility to become skilled in their area of interest so as to ensure that they are empowered to support themselves, family and be proud citizens of their country in the respective areas of skill acquisition.
