FCT Council Chairmen Miss Deadline to Address Audit Queries on ₦100 Billion

The six area council chairmen in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) did not show up for a scheduled meeting with the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC). They were supposed to answer questions regarding financial issues linked to about ₦100 billion.

The chairmen had asked to appear on September 22, 2026, but they did not attend or send anyone in their place. As a result, the committee has now issued a final notice, giving the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, along with the Heads of Audit from the six councils, a deadline to appear on October 14, 2026. If they fail to show up, they may face penalties.

The councils involved are Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. The financial issues were highlighted in an audit report from the Auditor-General for the year ending December 31, 2021. The report revealed that these councils had unpaid debts totaling around ₦7.65 billion. This includes money owed for pension contributions, taxes, and payments to contractors.

AMAC has the largest debt, amounting to about ₦2.19 billion, followed by Bwari with ₦1.49 billion and Kwali with ₦1.46 billion. Gwagwalada owes ₦1.01 billion, Kuje has ₦892.2 million, and Abaji owes ₦593.8 million.

The Auditor-General also criticized the councils for not properly managing their fixed assets. For instance, Gwagwalada was noted for not keeping accurate records of assets valued at ₦336 million. This lack of proper documentation raises concerns about potential losses.

Additionally, the committee is looking into ₦24.87 billion spent by the councils on salaries, operational costs, and capital projects in 2021. AMAC spent the most at ₦5.03 billion, while other councils had varying amounts.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, expressed frustration over the councils’ repeated failure to attend meetings and provide necessary documents. He emphasized the importance of managing public funds responsibly and warned that those found responsible for these issues would face consequences.