Blessing Bature, Abuja
The Chairman Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu has lamented the unfortunate astronomical level of indebtedness his predecessor incurred to the council running to N2.9 Billion.
He explained that this unfortunate development has hampered the commencement of any new infrastructural contract to tackle the monumental mess that the council is enmeshed.
He said this during an interactive session with journalists in Nyanya, a sitelite town of AMAC. According to him “the council owe banks till date, in staff salary arrears and contracts owed runs close to three billion naira, making it impossible to initiate and commence new projects.
Maikalangu said inspite of his administration’s decision to immediately deliver his campaign promises, the empty treasury, incidences of a porous and diversionary revenue system and very huge debts in place made it practically impossible for them to do the needful.
“So we decided that there was no point mounting staggering liabilities on the system, because the trickling stipends from the federation account and the widespread diversion of revenue into private accounts has never been enough to cater for staff emoluments let alone paying the debts owed that runs to N2.9 billion”, he added.
He however reiterated his administration’s commitment to deliver dividend of democracy to the people and hence resolved to justifying the collection of every Kobo earned, by providing infrastructure within the municipality as well as the highly disadvantaged rural areas.
The chairman called on the revenue-paying public to stop making cash payments of all forms by paying all that is due to AMAC to it’s statutory revenue accounts in designated banks or face the risk of paying twice,
He assured residents that he will continue to be responsive to their wellbeing and welfare by delivering on their infrastructural and social needs where possible.
