N100bn Audit Query: Reps Threaten Sanctions for FCT Council Chairmen

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has issued a final seven-day summons to officials of the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils over unresolved audit queries involving about N100 billion.

The action followed the failure of the six area council chairmen to appear before the committee or send representatives to respond to questions arising from the Auditor-General’s reports.

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

The chairmen had requested September 22, 2026, as the date for their appearance but failed to attend the sitting or delegate officials.

Consequently, the committee has summoned the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, as well as Heads of Audit of the six councils, to appear on October 14, 2026.

The committee warned that officials who fail to honour the summons would face sanctions in line with the relevant service rules.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, said the councils had repeatedly failed to respond to invitations and provide documents needed to resolve the audit queries.

He said the September 22 appearance date was specifically requested by the councils and granted by the committee, yet none of the chairmen appeared or sent representatives.

The audit queries are 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 councils had outstanding liabilities of about N7.65 billion arising from unremitted pension deductions, PAYE, VAT and withholding tax, as well as unpaid obligations to contractors.

AMAC recorded the highest liability at N2.19 billion, followed by Bwari with N1.49 billion, Kwali with N1.46 billion, Gwagwalada with N1.01 billion, Kuje with N892.2 million and Abaji with N593.8 million.

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

Further concerns raised in subsequent audit reports include alleged understatement of internally generated revenue, unauthorised disposal of assets, non-disclosure of statutory revenue and failure to remit withholding tax.

Salam also disclosed that the councils had failed to audit and submit their financial accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025, contrary to statutory requirements.

He stressed that public funds must be managed transparently and prudently, warning that officials found culpable would be held accountable in accordance with the law.