House of Representatives has queried the renewed park and pay arrangement put in place by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA.
It would be recalled that FCTA reintroduced the park and pay policy in August 2023, after signing an agreement with two concessionaires.
Reports said the policy is aimed at decongesting the metropolitan city, as well as make motoring a more pleasant experience.
Speaking yesterday during an interactive session, the FCT Mandate Secretary, Chinedum Elechi informed that his mandate was to ensure good transportation arrangement in the city centre.
But the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory stated that most residents and motorists are being harassed daily by those recruited to implement the policy.
Reports have confirmed that the policy was suspended in April 2014 after a high court judgement stopped the FCTA from collecting fees from residents for on-and-off the street parking within the city.
Speaking during the interactive session with some officials of the mandate secretariat, the Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Muktar Betara requested for details on how the reintroduced park and pay arrangement was established, who authorised it, as well as how remittances were made to the coffers of the FCDA.
In his response, the mandate secretary said the policy was regulated and supported by a legal framework, and that only designated areas serve as parking zones in the territory.
“Park and pay is by regulation. We have legal frameworks. It is part of controlling traffic. So, under the park and pay, designated areas are meant to be parks. So, it is legal.
“It is (revenue) paid through concessionaires. There is usually a ration between the concessionaires and the FCT. So, for areas where we have the concessionaires, there is a percentage that goes to them. It is 60 percent and 40 percent goes to the FCT. Infrastructure for the work is usually provided by the concessionaire. It (revenue) goes straight to the revenue account of the FCT not transportation,” he said.
