By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has mandated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, to urgently appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the Area Councils. This decision was made after a resolution was passed at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
The committee observed that the absence of a substantive Auditor-General had stalled the signing and transmission of audited accounts to the House, as required by the constitution. Representative Bamidele Salam, chairman of the committee, noted that the issue needed their intervention, prompting a motion to be moved to that effect.
Salam drew parallels with a similar situation in the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in Nigeria, which was vacant for about two years during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He explained that the committee, along with its Senate counterpart, had to intervene to secure the appointment of a substantive Auditor-General.
The motion was moved by Honourable Obordor Mitema and seconded by Honourable Usman Bala, with all members unanimously supporting it. Earlier, the Acting Auditor General for the Area Councils, Mr. Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, presented a report to the committee, highlighting infractions such as non-submission of audited financial reports and non-remittance of pension deductions.
Abdullahi attributed most of the infractions to earlier administrations, as he has only been in office for six months in an acting capacity. Hon. Billy Osawaru urged the committee to take action against the office of the Auditor General for the infractions committed.
A 5-member sub-committee, chaired by Hon. Tochukwu Okere, was established to investigate the matters and make recommendations. The sub-committee includes Hon. Ajiya Abdulrahman, Hon. Mandara Usman, Hon. Mauruff Adebayo, and Hon. Mohammed Bargaja.
The FCT Area Council Chairmen in attendance included Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Hon. John Gabaya of Bwari, while Kuje and Kwali were represented by their vice chairmen.
