The Salary in FCT Every Month Is N8 Billion - Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has put the administration's monthly wage bill at N8 billion.

Wike noted that the FCT budget for next year would take into account the concerns raised by various stakeholders and unions.

He explained that the current bill excludes the recent N35,000 wage increase for civil servants.

The Minister disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the executive members of the FCT chapter of Association of Resident Doctors led by the President, Dr Rahman Olayinka.

He told the doctors that the government may not be able to solve all their challenges, but it would do its best within the limits of their ability.

He said, "People want government to do things for them. The federal government has just increased salaries by 35,000. But where are the resources? Nobody is asking this question. People just want more money.

"In FCT the salary a month is N8bn. I am not talking about this increment now. Now, what are we dependent on? IGR. We must tell ourselves the simple truth. The current expenditure is such that we cannot find infrastructure. When we were in Rivers, we were doing 70 percent for infrastructure and 30 for recurrent.

Earlier, Dr Olayinka thanked the minister for attending to some of their challenges within weeks of assuming office.

Noting that the "Japa Syndrome", a term used for brain drain, Dr Olayinka said there is a dearth of manpower in FCT's health sector. He also called for the purchase or more drugs for FCT hospitals.

He said, "We still have shortage of manpower, and it is causing a burn out of the doctors in the FCT. We will like you to consider the health sector when there is recruitment. We need doctors, pharmacists, nurses, lab technicians etc. FCT is at the receiving end of the Japa syndrome.