House Sets To Grill FCT Council Chairmen on Expenditure

The House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters is set to grill the six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on their expenditure.

They are to face the House Committee after failing to show up despite several invitations.

Chairman of the Committee Mr Frederick Agbedi during a hearing which was attended by the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmud, and the six Chairmen expressed displeasure that they had been dodging the invitation to explain how they have been spending money.

He berated them, saying their action held the parliament in contempt.

Mr. Agbedi also said that the Committee was not witch-hunting anyone, but that anyone who is in service must be accountable.

The lawmaker said the Committee had to adjourn the investigative hearing till next week as a result of the demise of a member of the House from Kaduna State, Hon Ekene Adams.

Mr Mahmud apologised for not being able to meet up with earlier invitations and promised that subsequently they would work with the Committee.

Also, the Area Council Chairman for Kwali, Mr Danladi Chia, also apologised on behalf his colleagues and promised they would be cooperative for the probe.

According to a schedule provided by the Clerk of the Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Abaji Area Council would appear before the Committee on Tuesday, July 23, 2024; Bwari on Wednesday July 24, 202 and Gwagwalada on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Also, Kuje Area Council would face the Committee on Tuesday, July 30, 2024; Kwali on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 and AMAC on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

The Committee had last Tuesday, threatened the stoppage of budgetary allocation to the FCT due to the refusal of the Area Council Chairmen as well as agencies in charge of the Councils to honour previous invitations.

Confidence Okwuchi