The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has voiced her frustration over being sidelined in Senate Committee matters concerning her constituency.
Kingibe made this known during Tuesday’s Plenary session, as the Senate considered the 2024 N98.5bn Supplementary budget for the FCT.
Speaking under Orders 10 and 11, Kingibe said despite her position as the highest elected official in the FCT, representing over four million people, she is excluded from crucial discussions on FCT matters, particularly budgetary issues.
Kingibe stated, “Mr. President, as the highest elected person in the FCT, I am not carried along in matters pertaining to the territory, including budget discussions. Today, the FCT supplementary budget is being presented, but I was not informed about the procedure and was not invited to any meetings.”
However, Senate President GodsWill Akpabio interrupted Kingibe, requesting that she present her concerns in a motion.
The senators in plenary agreed that Kingibe would present her complaint in a motion the following day.
This development comes after President Bola Tinubu sought a supplementary bill of N98.5bn for the Federal Capital Territory Administration, in addition to the N1.2tn budget passed in March by the National Assembly.
