The six area council chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory have failed to appear before the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee to answer questions over alleged financial infractions involving about ₦100 billion. The chairmen had requested to appear on September 22, 2026, but neither attended nor sent representatives. This is the latest in a series of absences, prompting the committee to issue a final summons to the councils’ directors of personnel management and finance, and their heads of audit.
The affected councils are Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. The queries are contained in the Auditor-General’s annual report on the six councils for the year ended December 31, 2021. The report recorded about ₦7.65 billion in outstanding liabilities, including unremitted pension deductions, Pay As You Earn tax, value added tax, and withholding tax, as well as unpaid contractor obligations.
According to the report, Abuja Municipal Area Council had the largest liability, at ₦2.19 billion, followed by Bwari with ₦1.49 billion and Kwali with ₦1.46 billion. Gwagwalada owed ₦1.01 billion, Kuje ₦892.2 million, and Abaji ₦593.8 million. The Auditor-General also raised concerns about asset records across the councils, citing Gwagwalada over non-current assets valued at ₦336 million that were not properly recorded and updated.
The committee is seeking explanations and supporting documents for ₦24.87 billion spent by the councils on personnel, overheads, and capital projects in 2021. The Public Accounts Committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, expressed concern that the councils had repeatedly failed to attend hearings or provide documents needed to resolve the audit queries. He noted that reports for 2022 and part of 2023 raised further concerns, including alleged understatement of internally generated revenue.
Salam also mentioned that the councils had not audited or submitted their financial accounts for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The committee is empowered by the Constitution to examine public accounts and investigate financial irregularities identified by the Auditor-General. The councils’ failure to comply with the committee’s requests may lead to sanctions under the relevant service rules.
The committee has now issued a final summons to the councils’ directors of personnel management and finance, and their heads of audit, directing them to appear on October 14 or face sanctions. This move is aimed at ensuring that the councils provide the necessary information and explanations to resolve the audit queries.
The Public Accounts Committee’s investigation into the financial infractions is ongoing, with the committee seeking to hold the councils accountable for their financial actions. The outcome of the investigation may lead to further actions, including potential sanctions against the councils and their officials.
Key points
- The six area council chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory face a fresh summons over alleged financial infractions involving about ₦100 billion.
- The councils had repeatedly failed to attend hearings or provide documents needed to resolve the audit queries.
- The committee is seeking explanations and supporting documents for ₦24.87 billion spent by the councils on personnel, overheads, and capital projects in 2021.
