Reps express disappointment over FCT Primary Healthcare’s 2023 Budget performance
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council and Ancillary Services has expressed dissatisfaction with the 2023 budget performance of the Department of Primary Healthcare, FCT Area Council Service Secretariat.
The Committee directed the agency to reconcile all relevant financial documents within seven days and submit the nominal roll and addresses of the 270 Primary Healthcare Centres across the FCT to its Clerk.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Peter Akpanke, issued the directive during the Committee’s oversight visit to the FCT Area Council Secretariat after observing inconsistencies in the budget report presented by the agency.
“I don’t feel satisfied looking at your budget performance. As a health-related agency, you should be proactive in solving health-related issues,” Hon. Akpanke stated.
While acknowledging the agency’s request for increased funding, the Committee insisted that the department must first improve its efficiency to justify additional allocations.
The Committee also highlighted the need to enhance welfare packages for corps members serving in the agency to encourage their contributions to the healthcare sector.
Earlier, Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Healthcare Board, revealed that the agency’s overhead cost stood at N4.8 million. She noted that since assuming office six months ago, she had been working to renovate the office for a more conducive work environment.
“There was no inventory when I came,” Dr. Wamakko stated.
She disclosed that the agency has about 300 staff members, with nine management staff occupying the administrative block. She further appealed for increased funding to support community immunization sensitization campaigns.
During a separate oversight visit to the Area Council Service Commission, the Committee discovered that the approved budget for the agency was not directly released to them.
Expressing frustration, the Committee instructed the Clerk to write to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) demanding an explanation for the indirect disbursement process.
Acting Administrative Secretary of the FCT Area Councils Service Commission, Mrs. Eunice Yakubu, revealed that although N250 million was approved as overhead costs for the agency, only N240 million was released.
She further clarified that the agency does not receive funds directly and must apply to the FCDA for disbursements.
The Committee also raised concerns over the agency’s failure to adhere to the federal character principle in its recruitment process. Findings revealed that the last recruitment exercise conducted by the agency was in 2008.
In another oversight visit to the FCT Area Council Pension Board, the Director of the Board, Suleiman Abdulrahman, informed the Committee that several pension payments remain outstanding, raising concerns about the welfare of retirees.
The Committee emphasized the need for timely pension payments and greater accountability in budget implementation across all FCT agencies.
