Reps Threaten Arrest of FCT Council Chairmen Over ₦100bn Audit Infractions

Reps Threaten Arrest of FCT Council Chairmen Over ₦100bn Audit
Audit report uncovers unremitted taxes and poor asset management.
Lawmakers threaten arrest over failure to appear and submit accounts.

House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has summoned chairmen and finance directors of the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils over alleged financial infractions running into more than ₦100 billion.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the summon followed the submission of an audit report by the Auditor General for the FCT Area Councils, which indicted Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils for widespread breaches of financial regulations.

The audit report for the year ended December 31, 2021, revealed cases of unremitted taxes and Value Added Tax deductions, failure to maintain and update Fixed Asset Registers, and expenditures that were not properly accounted for across the councils.

According to the report, the six councils recorded outstanding liabilities totalling ₦7.65 billion as of December 31, 2021. These include unremitted pension deductions, Pay As You Earn obligations, unpaid capital project commitments, unremitted VAT and withholding taxes owed to the Nigeria Revenue Service, the FCT Inland Revenue Service, Pension Fund Administrators and contractors.

A breakdown showed that Abuja Municipal Area Council accounted for ₦2.19 billion, followed by Bwari Area Council with ₦1.49 billion and Kwali Area Council with ₦1.46 billion. Gwagwalada recorded ₦1.01 billion, Kuje ₦892.2 million, while Abaji had ₦593.8 million.

The Auditor General also faulted the councils for poor asset management. In Gwagwalada alone, non current assets valued at ₦336 million were reportedly not properly documented, raising concerns about possible losses.

Further findings showed that the councils spent ₦24.87 billion in 2021 on personnel, overheads and capital projects. Despite an 89 per cent increase in spending compared to 2020, about 37 per cent of funds allocated to capital projects were not properly accounted for.

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Reacting to the report, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, confirmed that three letters had been issued to the affected officials, directing them to appear before the committee on February 11, 2026. He warned that failure to honour the invitation would lead the House to invoke its constitutional powers, including ordering their arrest. Salam also disclosed that the councils failed to audit and submit accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025, contrary to the law.