FCT senator insists Wike obtaining loans without NASS approval

The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of obtaining loans without the National Assembly’s approval, as required by law.

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Ms Kingibe, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday.

This is not the first time the senator has accused Mr Wike of securing loan facilities for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) without the approval of the National Assembly.

In August, Ms Kingibe made a similar allegation when she appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm.

Mr Wike, however, denied the allegation.

Speaking on Tuesday, the minister said Ms Kingibe did not understand how government borrowing works, insisting that loans could not be obtained without the approval of the National Assembly.

“There is no way you can go and take a loan without the approval of the National Assembly. If you want to take a loan, you will include it in the budget and state that, in this aspect of the budget, the government will take out a loan,” he said.

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Mr Wike also said Ms Kingibe would not return to the Senate after the 2027 election, claiming that FCT residents had decided to support former senator Philip Aduda.

“I don’t want to comment about her. She is already packing her things out. The people of the FCT have made their choice. They are going to support President Tinubu and Philip Aduda for Senate,” he said.

Evidence

In her Thursday statement, Ms Kingibe challenged Mr Wike to provide evidence of the National Assembly’s approval for the alleged loans.

“As for not getting approval for the loans, I dare the FCT Minister to show the people of the FCT, and all, who have asked, the Votes and Proceedings of the day the approval was given. I cannot speak for the House of Representatives, but I know that it was NEVER brought before the Senate. The President, from whom the minister derives his powers, has always sought approval for ALL loans from the Senate.

“No Minister, no matter how powerful, is above the law. No public office holder is above scrutiny. And no individual has the authority to decide by personal declaration who the people of the FCT will elect in 2027. That decision belongs solely to the people,” she said.

Ms Kingibe also said she would not be intimidated or silenced over her scrutiny of the FCT administration.

“I also want to make this very clear: attempts to intimidate, silence, or demean women in government are totally unacceptable. Women who choose to serve in public office must not be expected to remain silent simply because they ask difficult questions or refuse to compromise their principles.

“I will not be distracted by personal attacks. I will continue to speak when the interest of the FCT demands it, scrutinise matters that require scrutiny, and stand firmly for the people I represent. I did not enter public service to be intimidated. I entered it to serve. The will of the people of the FCT will prevail on the day of the election,” she said.

What the law says about FCT borrowing

The FCT occupies a different constitutional position from Nigeria’s 36 states.

Under Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution, the provisions of the Constitution apply to the FCT as if it were a state. However, the Constitution vests the legislative powers ordinarily exercised by a state House of Assembly in the National Assembly, while executive powers ordinarily vested in a state governor are vested in the President.

Section 302 further provides that the President may appoint a minister for the FCT, who exercises powers and performs functions delegated by the President.

This means that, unlike state governments whose budgets are approved by their respective Houses of Assembly, the FCT’s annual appropriation is considered and approved by the National Assembly.

The National Assembly’s control over FCT public funds is reflected in the annual FCT Appropriation Acts. For example, the 2025 FCT Appropriation Act provided that all revenue accruing to the FCT, including statutory revenue, must be paid into the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Account and that no money could be withdrawn from the account without appropriation by the National Assembly.

The Act also provided that, where appropriated expenditure could not be funded due to a revenue shortfall, the FCT Minister would have to seek a waiver from the National Assembly before incurring the expenditure.

ALSO READ: INTERVIEW: How Wike’s refusal to relate with me is hurting FCT – Senator Kingibe

Beyond the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 contains specific conditions for government borrowing. Section 44(1) requires any government or its agencies seeking to borrow to specify the purpose of the borrowing and provide a cost-benefit analysis detailing the economic and social benefits of the proposed borrowing.

Section 44(2)(a) further requires “prior authorisation in the Appropriation or other Act or Law” for the purpose for which the borrowing will be used. It also provides that proceeds of borrowing must be applied solely to long-term capital expenditure.

The Debt Management Office’s borrowing guidelines are more explicit about the FCT. For domestic borrowing from banks and other financial institutions, the guidelines require the FCT to submit evidence of approval by the FCT Executive Committee and a resolution of the National Assembly, as well as the relevant FCT Appropriation or other Act authorising the purpose for which the loan will be used.