AMAC Chairmanship Candidates Forum has reviewed with deep concern the recent 2025 budget proposal presented by the executive chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu.
The forum noted that while fiscal planning was crucial for the development of communities, it expressed dismay by what it described as “glaring lack of accountability for the 2023 and 2024 budgets.”
The forum in a statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Eze Primacy Okadigbo, wondered the significant projects or measurable impacts the chairman could present as evidence of responsible budget utilisation over the past two years?
According to the statement, “Our communities are still plagued by poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare services, lack of potable water, and failing educational facilities. These critical issues persist despite the substantial funds allocated in previous budgets.
“The situation is worsened by the council’s regressive revenue collection system.”
Okadigbo further observed that AMAC’s heavy reliance on taxing small-scale businesses had shut many of such enterprises and continued to stifle economic growth as well as undermining local entrepreneurship.
“This overburdening taxation is unsustainable and unfair, especially when other revenue generation methods remain unexplored.
“Furthermore, the council’s refusal to open its financial operations, particularly revenue records, to public scrutiny is a gross failure of governance,” Okadigbo noted.
Also speaking, spokesperson of the forum, Hon. Michael Odoh noted that AMAC residents remained unaware of the exact revenue collected and how it was being spent, adding that this lack of transparency erodes public trust and raises serious concerns about the council’s commitment to accountability.
To address these pressing issues, the forum demand a complete audit of the 2023 and 2024 budgets with detailed reports made public.
It also wants a comprehensive review of AMAC’s revenue collection methods to develop fair and sustainable strategies.
Other demands include full transparency in the council’s financial operations, including periodic public disclosure of revenue and expenditures; the establishment of an independent oversight body to monitor the implementation of the 2025 budget, as well as an immediate overhaul of the oppressive taxation system imposed on AMAC residents and small-scale businesses.
The forum averred that continued reliance on excessive taxation has driven many businesses to closure, compounding unemployment and poverty within the council.
“The residents of AMAC deserve better governance—one that prioritises fairness, accountability and economic empowerment,” it said.
Daily Intel reports that the AMAC chairman on Tuesday presented a budget of N25.6 billion for 2025.
According to Maikalangu, the budget proposal tagged ‘Budget of Sustainable Development, aims at enhancing the well-being and welfare of residents while fostering sustainable development.
He noted that in preparing the 2025 budget, he carefully adopted zero-based budgeting method to enable departments to justify their expenditure for the new fiscal year with a view to eliminating unnecessary and wasteful expenditure.
