FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe has accused Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike of securing loans for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) without obtaining the required approval from the National Assembly, a move she claims violates constitutional and legal frameworks. The allegations, made in a statement released on Thursday, have intensified scrutiny over the FCT’s financial operations and raised questions about the adherence to Nigeria’s fiscal governance rules.
Kingibe, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reiterated her claims during a press briefing, emphasizing that the National Assembly’s approval is a statutory requirement for any government borrowing. She stated, “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.” Her remarks underscore a long-standing dispute between the senator and Wike, who has consistently denied the allegations.
The controversy centers on the FCT’s unique constitutional status. Under Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution, the FCT is treated as a state for certain purposes, but its legislative and executive powers are vested in the National Assembly and the President, respectively. This arrangement means the FCT’s annual appropriation is approved by the National Assembly, unlike state budgets, which are handled by state Houses of Assembly. Kingibe argued that Wike’s alleged actions bypass this critical oversight mechanism.
Wike, who has served as FCT Minister since 2019, responded to the accusations by asserting that all loans are approved through the budget process. “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 in a recent interview. He also dismissed Kingibe’s claims as baseless, suggesting she lacked understanding of government borrowing procedures.
This is not the first time Kingibe has raised concerns about Wike’s financial decisions. In August 2023, she made similar allegations during a television interview, accusing the minister of circumventing legal protocols. Wike, however, has consistently maintained that all FCT borrowing adheres to established procedures, including the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, which mandates prior authorization for government loans.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, specifically Section 44(1), requires any government agency seeking to borrow to specify the purpose of the loan and provide a cost-benefit analysis. Section 44(2)(a) further mandates “prior authorisation in the Appropriation or other Act or Law” for the intended use of borrowed funds. Kingibe argued that Wike’s alleged loans failed to meet these criteria, citing a lack of transparency in the approval process.
Kingibe’s statement also addressed broader implications for governance. “No Minister, no matter how powerful, is above the law. No public office holder is above scrutiny,” she said. She emphasized that the FCT’s residents, not individual politicians, should determine electoral outcomes. “The will of the people of the FCT will prevail on the day of the election,” she added, rejecting Wike’s assertion that FCT voters would support former senator Philip Aduda in the 2027 elections.
Wike’s comments about Kingibe’s political future drew sharp criticism. He claimed FCT residents had “made their choice” to support Aduda, a claim Kingibe dismissed as an attempt to intimidate her. “Attempts to intimidate, silence, or demean women in government are totally unacceptable,” she said, vowing to continue her role as a watchdog for the FCT’s interests. “I did not enter public service to be intimidated. I entered it to serve.”
The legal framework governing FCT borrowing is further outlined in the Debt Management Office’s guidelines. For domestic loans, the FCT must submit evidence of approval by the FCT Executive Committee and a resolution from the National Assembly, along with an appropriation act authorizing the loan’s purpose. Kingibe highlighted that these steps appear to have been bypassed in the alleged transactions, raising concerns about accountability.
The 2025 FCT Appropriation Act, which governs the territory’s finances, explicitly states that all revenue must be deposited into the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Account. It also requires that any expenditure exceeding available revenue must be approved by the National Assembly. Kingibe argued that Wike’s alleged loans violated these provisions, as they were not included in the budget or subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
Wike’s defense of his actions has been met with skepticism from opposition lawmakers and civil society groups. Critics argue that the FCT’s unique status makes it particularly vulnerable to financial mismanagement, given the lack of a state-level legislative body to oversee its finances. “The FCT’s governance structure creates a vacuum that can be exploited by those in power,” said a spokesperson for a local accountability group.
The dispute has also reignited debates about the role of the National Assembly in overseeing federal expenditures. While the chamber has historically faced criticism for its limited oversight capacity, the FCT’s case highlights the need for stricter enforcement of fiscal rules. “The National Assembly must act as a check on executive power, especially in areas where constitutional provisions are ambiguous,” said a legal analyst.
Kingibe’s allegations have not been independently verified, but they align with broader concerns about transparency in Nigeria’s public finances. The country has repeatedly faced scrutiny over its debt management practices, with international bodies urging greater accountability in loan approvals and usage.
As the political battle between Kingibe and Wike continues, the FCT’s residents remain at the center of the debate. The 2027 elections will test whether the territory’s voters prioritize accountability over political loyalty. For now, the clash between the senator and the minister underscores the challenges of balancing governance, transparency, and power in Nigeria’s complex federal system.
The controversy also reflects deeper tensions within the ADC, Kingibe’s party, which has faced internal divisions over its approach to governance. While some members support her aggressive oversight of the FCT, others argue that such confrontations risk destabilizing the party’s political alliances.
With the National Assembly set to review the FCT’s 2025 budget in the coming months, the pressure on Wike to justify his financial decisions will only intensify. For Kingibe, the battle is not just about a single issue but about upholding the principles of democratic accountability in a system where power often operates beyond public scrutiny.