Audit queries: Again, FCT council chairs shun House of Representatives

Chairmen of the six Area Councils of Abuja have again failed to appear before the Public ouse Accounts Committee of Representatives, to answer questions over alleged financial infractions contained in audit reports involving about N100 billion.

The committee has however, issued a seven-day “final” summons to the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, as well as Heads of Audit of the six councils, to appear on October 14, 2026, or face sanctions in accordance with the relevant service rules.

The affected councils are Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.

The audit queries were contained in the Annual Audit Report of the Auditor-General for the Six FCT Area Councils for the year ended December 31, 2021.

According to the report, the six councils had outstanding liabilities of about N7.65 billion arising from unremitted pension deductions, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT) and withholding tax, as well as unpaid obligations to contractors.

A breakdown showed that AMAC accounted for the highest outstanding liability of N2.19 billion, followed by Bwari with N1.49 billion and Kwali with N1.46 billion.

Also, Gwagwalada had N1.01 billion in outstanding liabilities, Kuje N892.2 million and Abaji N593.8 million.

“The committee has decided to issue summons to the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance of these local governments, including their Heads of Audit, to appear without fail on Wednesday, October 14,” the Chairman, Bamidele Salam stated.