By Ken Afor
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday sacked 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and government companies of the FCT Administration (FCTA).
In a statement by the Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, the affected appointees are to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers.
The affected positions include:
1. Group MD/CEO, Abuja investment Company Ltd
2. CEO/MD, Abuja Markets Management Ltd
3. MD/CEO, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company
4. CEO/MD, Abuja Property Development Company
5. CEO/MD Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone Company
6. CEO/MD Abuja Film Village International
7. CEO/MD Powernoth AICL Equipment Leasing Company Ltd
8. MD Abuja Broadcasting Corporation
9. MD, Abuja Enterprise Agency
10. GM, FCT Water Board
11. DG, FCT Emergency Management Agency
12. Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board
13. Director General, Hospital Management Board
14. Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board
15. Director, FCT Scholarship Board
16. Director FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board
17. Director, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board
18. Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center
19. Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme
20. Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department
21. Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council
Although no reason was given for their sack, from all indications the move could be hinged on sanitizing the ministry and the FCTA.
Wike on assumption of office on August 27 made it clear that it would no longer be business as usual in the FCT being the capital city.
It would be recalled that last week, the minister revoked 167 plots of land in posh areas in the nation’s capital belonging to some political elites in the country.
Their lands were revoked after the ministry claimed they contravened the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy.
“The revocation of the affected plots was approved by the minister following the violation of the terms of Rights of Occupancy.
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the affected titles for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development,” the ministry stated.
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was not spared. Others include Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, Udoma Udo Udoma, former minister of budget and national planning among others.