FCT workers hate me over spending cuts – Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said many civil servants are unhappy with him because of his decision to channel government funds into infrastructure projects instead of approving costly official trips and conferences.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the minister explained that his administration has shifted its spending priorities from recurrent expenses to capital development, especially road construction and other projects that directly benefit residents.

Wike said he would rather face criticism than approve what he described as unnecessary government spending.

According to him, public officials should not expect approval for expensive foreign trips whose value does not match their cost.

“We waste our resources on frivolities. You expect me to approve funds for you to go for conference in America on land administration, what’s that? Go to Lagos and Port Harcourt, study how their own works or did not work and make a comparison here,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor disclosed that he had turned down several requests worth millions of naira for week-long international conferences, insisting that the funds should instead be used for projects that have a direct impact on the lives of residents.

“How do you encourage me to sign N20 million to travel to America for a conference of one week for land administration? I won’t do that,” he said.

Wike stated that since assuming office, his administration has restructured the FCT budget by giving greater attention to capital projects.

He said about 70 per cent of the budget is now dedicated to development projects, while only 30 per cent goes to recurrent expenditure.

According to him, the previous spending pattern allocated roughly 65 per cent of the budget to recurrent costs, leaving less for infrastructure and other long-term investments.

The minister argued that meaningful development cannot be achieved when government resources are largely spent on overheads instead of projects that improve the lives of citizens.

He also alleged that official conferences have increasingly become a means of diverting public funds, stressing that his administration would continue to invest such resources in visible projects.

“Some people say conferences for corruption and I say what is that? You are going for conferences to do what? These are ways government funds are being diverted. I say put this money in this road here and the people will get the impact,” he said.

While admitting that the policy has affected his popularity among government workers, Wike maintained that winning the approval of civil servants is not his main concern.

“That’s why I can’t be popular among civil servants. If you ask anybody today, one minister they won’t like is me. Why? Those money for conferences, I put the money together for roads,” he said.