President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s decision to exempt the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), saying the policy was aimed at improving efficiency and accelerating infrastructure development in Abuja.
Tinubu said the decision provided the FCTA with greater financial flexibility, liquidity and operational speed needed to execute key projects without delays caused by bureaucratic procedures.
The President spoke on Monday while commissioning a new Office Annex for the Body of Benchers and 10 units of four-bedroom staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Tinubu said the policy initially attracted criticism from some quarters, but the progress recorded in the Federal Capital Territory had justified the decision.
“When we pulled the FCT Administration out of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), there were skeptics. There were those who questioned the wisdom of that financial liberation. But we did it because we knew that local administration must have the liquidity, the speed and the corporate flexibility to interface with financial institutions and deliver critical projects without bureaucratic strangulation,” he said.
The President praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for using the policy to drive infrastructure development and improve governance in Abuja.
He noted that Wike’s achievements extended beyond road construction, highlighting efforts to strengthen justice institutions, including the resolution of the Nigerian Law School’s long-standing land ownership issue through the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Tinubu described the newly commissioned Body of Benchers Office Annex as a reflection of his administration’s commitment to the rule of law, institutional independence and democratic governance.
Addressing concerns that executive funding of judiciary infrastructure could amount to interference, the President said providing facilities for the justice sector was a constitutional responsibility of the executive arm of government.
“The provision of infrastructure for the legal community and the judiciary is not an interference in the independence of another arm of government. Rather, it is a constitutional and collaborative duty of the Executive to ensure that those who interpret and uphold our laws are provided with an environment that fosters operational efficiency and excellence,” Tinubu said.
The President also announced ongoing Federal Government investments in the Nigerian Law School, including the construction of a new auditorium, additional student hostels and the digitisation of academic and administrative operations.
He added that similar projects were being executed across the justice sector, including the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, magistrates’ courts and residential facilities for judges.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.