FCT Council Chairmen Miss Meeting on N100 Billion Financial Issues

The six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) did not show up for a scheduled meeting with the House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee. This meeting was meant to address questions about financial issues involving around 100 billion naira.

The chairmen had asked to meet on September 22, 2026, but they failed to attend or send anyone in their place. As a result, the committee decided to issue a final notice to key officials from the councils. These officials must appear on October 14, 2026, or face penalties.

The councils involved are Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. An audit report from the Auditor-General for the councils revealed that they owe about 7.65 billion naira in unpaid taxes and pension contributions. AMAC has the largest debt at around 2.19 billion naira, followed by Bwari and Kwali.

The audit report also pointed out that the councils did not manage their assets properly. For example, Gwagwalada was criticized for not keeping accurate records of assets worth 336 million naira.

Additionally, the committee is looking for explanations about 24.87 billion naira spent by the councils on staff salaries, operational costs, and projects in 2021. AMAC spent the most at 5.03 billion naira.

Rep. Bamidele Salam, who leads the committee, expressed frustration over the chairmen’s repeated failures to attend meetings. He emphasized the importance of managing public funds responsibly and stated that those responsible for any misconduct will be held accountable.

The Public Accounts Committee is responsible for reviewing the financial activities of public institutions and investigating any irregularities found by the Auditor-General.