House Deputy Spokesman Says FCT Minister Has Remained Subject to Legislative Oversight Despite Senator’s Allegations
ABUJA — Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has dismissed allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secured loans for the FCT without the approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said there was no basis for claims that Wike had bypassed the legislature or acted outside the law in financing projects and programmes across the Federal Capital Territory.
The lawmaker was reacting to allegations made by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, that the FCT Administration under Wike allegedly borrowed funds without obtaining approval from the National Assembly.
Kingibe had raised concerns over the alleged borrowings while appearing on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, insisting that she had never seen the FCT Minister appear before the Senate to seek approval for any loan.
“I have never seen Wike come to the National Assembly and before the Senate to ask for approval of anything,” Kingibe reportedly said.
The senator said FCT budgets were usually presented to the Senate through the relevant committee before consideration and approval by the chamber.
She also claimed that concerns over the alleged borrowings arose after she reviewed information from the Debt Management Office covering the period between August 2023 and March 2026.
But Agbese, who represents a constituency in Benue State, described the allegations as misleading and defended Wike’s record before the National Assembly.
According to him, the FCT Minister had not committed any infraction in relation to the financing of projects and programmes in the nation’s capital.
He argued that the processes governing public borrowing involved several constitutional and administrative authorities, insisting that the FCT Minister could not unilaterally create a sovereign borrowing obligation outside established procedures.
Agbese said Wike had consistently subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny, including the presentation of FCT budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.
He maintained that the minister’s relationship with the legislature contradicted suggestions that the FCT Administration was operating without oversight.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
The Deputy House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.
According to him, the debt profile should be considered alongside the scale of infrastructure development and ongoing projects across Abuja and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
He pointed to major road construction and rehabilitation projects, transportation infrastructure and other development interventions being carried out under Wike’s administration.
Agbese said borrowing to finance infrastructure was not itself an offence, stressing that the major issue was whether the required legal and administrative procedures had been followed.
He also rejected attempts to portray Wike as a public official who operates outside legislative oversight.
According to the lawmaker, the National Assembly had continued to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities over the FCT Administration.
“Under our searchlight, the FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants. He has consistently engaged the National Assembly and subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” Agbese said.
He added that concerns surrounding public borrowing should be addressed through facts, official documents and established procedures rather than political accusations.
Agbese said that if Senator Kingibe had identified specific borrowing transactions she believed were unlawful, such transactions should be clearly identified and the relevant authorities invited to provide the necessary documentation and explanations.
The lawmaker also cautioned against confusing the responsibilities of the FCT Minister with those of other constitutional institutions and authorities involved in public finance and debt management.
He maintained that Wike’s administration should be assessed based on projects executed, procedures followed and the impact of government interventions across the Federal Capital Territory.
The exchange has further exposed the growing disagreement between Senator Kingibe and the FCT Administration over the management of Abuja.
While Kingibe has raised questions about the alleged borrowing activities of the FCT Administration, Agbese has insisted that Wike remains one of the most legislatively compliant public officials under the scrutiny of the National Assembly.
The controversy is likely to deepen calls for greater clarity and transparency regarding the FCT’s debt profile, borrowing arrangements and the approval processes governing major infrastructure financing in the nation’s capital.
For now, however, the two sides remain sharply divided, with Kingibe demanding answers over alleged unauthorised borrowings and Agbese insisting that there is no evidence that Wike violated the law or bypassed the National Assembly.
IBN News will continue to monitor developments surrounding the controversy over FCT borrowings and legislative oversight.
