Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he is the one minister many civil servants dislike because of his decision to redirect government spending from conferences to infrastructure projects.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said his administration had prioritised projects with visible impact over expenditures he described as wasteful.
Also read: PDP declares Wike a valuable asset, rejects APC overtures
The minister explained that he had repeatedly rejected requests to approve funds for foreign conferences, insisting that such resources were better invested in roads and other capital projects that directly benefit residents.
“Some people say conferences for corruption and I say what is that? You are going for conferences to do what? These are ways government funds are being diverted. I say put this money in this road here and the people will get the impact,” Wike said.
Reflecting on the reaction to the policy, he added: “And that’s why I can’t be popular among civil servants. If you ask anybody today, one minister they won’t like is me. Why? Those money for conferences, I put the money together for roads.”
Wike also revealed that he restructured the FCT budget after assuming office by reducing recurrent expenditure and allocating more resources to capital projects.
According to him, the shift was necessary to accelerate infrastructure development across Nigeria’s capital city and ensure that public funds deliver measurable benefits.
Since taking office, Wike has launched several road construction projects and introduced reforms in land administration as part of efforts to reshape the Federal Capital Territory.
However, his policies have also attracted criticism, particularly over the demolition of illegal structures, changes to land administration and his aggressive approach to cutting government spending.
Also read: PDP declares Wike a valuable asset, rejects APC overtures
Despite the criticism, Wike maintained that his administration would continue to prioritise projects that improve infrastructure and public service delivery rather than spending on activities he believes offer little value to residents.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
