N100bn audit queries: Reps issue final summons to FCT council officials

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has issued a seven-day final summons to officials of the six FCT Area Councils over unresolved audit queries involving about N100 billion in alleged financial irregularities.

The committee summoned the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, as well as Heads of Audit of Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali councils to appear on October 14, 2026, warning that failure to comply would attract sanctions under relevant service rules.

The latest summons followed the failure of the six council chairmen to appear before the committee on September 22, despite requesting that date for their appearance. They also failed to send representatives or provide the documents requested by the lawmakers.

Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, saying the councils had repeatedly ignored invitations to respond to findings contained in the Auditor-General’s report.

“The last date of appearance of the Abuja Area Councils was September 22, 2026, which was a date they requested and which was graciously granted by the committee. Yet, they failed to appear or send in any representation,” Salam said.

He added that the summoned officials must appear on October 14 “without fail” or face consequences in accordance with service rules.

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

The report identified about N7.65 billion in outstanding liabilities linked to unremitted pension deductions, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT) and withholding tax, as well as unpaid obligations to contractors.

AMAC accounted for N2.19 billion of the liabilities, followed by Bwari with N1.49 billion, Kwali N1.46 billion, Gwagwalada N1.01 billion, Kuje N892.2 million and Abaji N593.8 million.

The Auditor-General also faulted the councils for failing to properly maintain and update their fixed asset registers.

Gwagwalada, for instance, was reported to have non-current assets valued at N336 million whose ledger records were allegedly not properly maintained or updated, potentially making it difficult to trace missing assets.

The committee is also demanding explanations and supporting documents for N24.87 billion spent by the six councils on personnel, overheads and capital expenditure in 2021.

AMAC accounted for N5.03 billion, Gwagwalada N4.66 billion, Kuje N3.85 billion, Kwali N3.84 billion, Bwari N3.74 billion and Abaji N3.71 billion.

Salam said the committee had also identified concerns in subsequent audit reports covering 2022 and part of 2023, including alleged understatement of internally generated revenue, unauthorised disposal of assets, non-disclosure of statutory revenue and failure to remit withholding tax.

He further said the six councils had failed to audit and submit their financial accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025 as required by law.

Salam warned that officials found culpable would be held accountable, stressing that public funds must be managed transparently and prudently.

The Public Accounts Committee is constitutionally empowered to examine audited public accounts and investigate financial irregularities raised by the Auditor-General.

The October 14 summons is the committee’s latest attempt to compel officials of the six FCT councils to answer the outstanding queries and produce relevant financial records.

The Star