FCT Council Chairmen Face Sanctions Over N100bn Audit Query

The six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory did not attend a scheduled appearance before the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee to address alleged financial infractions amounting to approximately N100bn. Initially, the chairmen requested to appear on September 22, 2026, but failed to show up or send representatives.

Consequently, the committee has issued a seven-day final summons to the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, as well as Heads of Audit from the six councils, mandating their appearance on October 14, 2026, or face sanctions. The audit queries stem from the Annual Audit Report of the Auditor-General for the Six FCT Area Councils for the year ending December 31, 2021, which revealed outstanding liabilities of about N7.65bn due to unremitted pension deductions, Pay As You Earn, Value Added Tax, and unpaid obligations to contractors.

The report also criticized the councils for inadequate maintenance of fixed asset registers, particularly noting Gwagwalada Area Council's non-current assets valued at N336m were not properly recorded.