The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says his decision to redirect public funds from what he considers unnecessary government spending to infrastructure projects has made him unpopular among civil servants.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing on the state of the nation in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said he deliberately halted expenditures he believes created opportunities for the diversion of public funds, opting instead to invest in projects with visible benefits for residents.
According to the minister, funds that were previously allocated to activities such as overseas conferences are now being channelled into road construction and other capital projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
He said he rejected what he viewed as avoidable government expenses and focused on initiatives capable of delivering lasting impact.
He said, “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.”
Wike also questioned the justification for approving large amounts of money for foreign conferences, maintaining that such resources would be better spent on infrastructure.
“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.
The FCT minister further disclosed that he restructured the territory’s budget after assuming office, reversing what he described as an unhealthy emphasis on recurrent expenditure in favour of capital development.
“Before I came you had about 65 percent of the budget for recurrent expenditure. How would such society develop.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Wike directs civil servants to stay at home
I came onboard and said no, 70 per cent is for capital expenditure while 30 percent is for recurrent expenditure,” he stated.
He alleged that conferences had become one of the channels through which government funds were misused and insisted that investing those resources in infrastructure would produce greater benefits for the public.
“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.
Explaining why he believes he has not gained the support of many civil servants, Wike said his financial reforms disrupted the previous pattern of spending that benefited some public officials.
“And 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 added.
Wike’s remarks come as discussions continue over government expenditure, accountability and the need to strike a balance between workers’ welfare and infrastructure development in the nation’s capital.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023, Wike has consistently placed infrastructure at the centre of the FCT administration’s agenda.
His tenure has focused on road rehabilitation, urban renewal and improved service delivery, while advocating lower recurrent spending and greater investment in capital projects.
The former Rivers State governor has also faced criticism over several of his policies, including the demolition of structures deemed illegal, reforms in land administration and measures aimed at reducing recurrent expenditure.