The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has banned the Park and Pay scheme in the national capital as illegal.
In a live media chat on Wednesday in Abuja to mark his one year in office as the FCT minister, the minister stated that his office did not approve the exercise.
He noted that a senior advocate had brought up the scheme, which has been used to take government resources in the light of legal exercise. The minister noted that the scheme which has appeared to have been operating under the radar highlights the critical problem in the system that allows privates organizations and consultants to take away huge amounts from the government.
He noted that any scheme that tries to show any form of corruption in the FCT will be fought by the government; he encouraged the public to bring such cases before the government for critical responses.
He explained that some individuals in the office harassed a senior advocate. He noted that the senior advocate had time for the exercise, but the individual could not provide enough clarification on their work. He disclosed that the individuals had claimed to be workers from the Transport Secretariat, which enforces the Park and Pay.
The minister noted that he was unaware of such a program in the FCT; he noted that after a chat with the persons concerned, the consultants take 80 per cent of the money paid while the government take 20 per cent.
The minister went on to declare the activities illegal; he noted that steps would be taken immediately to quash the operation in the nation’s capital. He reiterated that nothing of such exists in the FCT.
He appreciated the senior advocate who drew his attention to the incident. He noted that if not for him, he would not be aware of such activities.
