Tinubu endorses FCTA's withdrawal from TSA, praises Wike for infrastructural developments in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu defended the decision to remove the Federal Capital Territory Administration from the Treasury Single Account on Monday, stating that this move has given the FCT the financial flexibility to expedite infrastructure projects and drive Abuja's transformation.

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The President commended Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for successfully translating the policy into tangible projects, while also dismissing claims of Executive interference in the judiciary through investments in legal infrastructure.

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Tinubu made these remarks during the commissioning of the new Office Annex of the Body of Benchers and 10 units of four-bedroom staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja, where he was represented by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

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According to a statement signed by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tinubu was represented at the events on Monday.

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Defending the exemption of the FCTA from the TSA, Tinubu stated that the policy has eliminated bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously hindered project execution, allowing for greater financial autonomy.

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President Tinubu noted that when the FCT Administration was removed from the Treasury Single Account, there were skeptics who questioned the wisdom of the decision, but the results have since vindicated the move.

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Tinubu credited Minister Wike with delivering on the mandate to modernize Abuja, with interventions that have gone beyond road construction to strengthening institutions of justice and governance.

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The President specifically mentioned the resolution of the Nigerian Law School's long-standing land title challenge, which was facilitated by the issuance of its Certificate of Occupancy after years without formal documentation.

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According to Tinubu, when he appointed Minister Wike, he gave him a clear mandate to transform Abuja into a modern, functional, and world-class capital city, which has been largely achieved over the last three years.

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The President rejected suggestions that the provision of infrastructure for the judiciary amounts to executive interference, instead describing such investments as part of the Executive's constitutional responsibility.

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Tinubu emphasized that providing infrastructure for the legal community and the judiciary is a collaborative duty of the Executive, ensuring that those who interpret and uphold laws have an environment that fosters operational efficiency and excellence.

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The President stressed that quality facilities are essential to training competent legal professionals, noting that the newly commissioned staff quarters marked the first phase of broader interventions in the Nigerian Law School.

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Tinubu disclosed that the Federal Government is funding a new auditorium, additional student hostels, and the digitization of the Law School's academic and administrative operations, with similar projects underway across the justice sector.

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These projects include the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, magistrates' courts, and residential quarters for judges, demonstrating the administration's commitment to investing in the justice sector.

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The President's comments come nearly three years after his administration removed the FCTA from the TSA, a financial management policy introduced in 2015 to promote transparency and accountability by requiring ministries, departments, and agencies to remit revenues into a single government account.