The House of Representatives has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to promptly appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the area councils, in line with legal provisions.
According to reports, the resolution was passed during a session of the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, where lawmakers noted that the absence of a substantive Auditor-General had delayed the signing and transmission of audited financial reports, as mandated by the constitution.
During the session, the Acting Auditor-General for the Area Councils, Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, made a presentation before the committee. However, committee chairman Bamidele Salam emphasized the need for urgent action to address the situation.
“Colleagues, I think we should also step into this. When we resumed in October 2023, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was vacant for about two years.
“The former President, Muhammadu Buhari, refused to make an appointment. And so, audit reports were not submitted. When we came in, myself and the Senate counterpart decided to write letters to the President and make some advocacy, which led to the appointment of a substantive Auditor-General,” Salam stated.
He further stated that if the situation in the FCT remains unresolved, the House must intervene and summon the minister to explain the delay in appointing a substantive Auditor-General.
A motion urging Wike to take action was proposed by Obordor Mitema and seconded by Usman Bala. The committee members unanimously approved the motion.
Addressing questions regarding the financial reports of the area councils, Acting Auditor-General Abdullahi Ibn Salihu clarified that most of the financial irregularities were committed by previous administrations, as he has only held the acting position for six months.
Some of the key violations identified include the failure to submit audited financial reports for 2023-2024, non-remittance of pension deductions to the Pension Commission (PENCOM), and the failure to present available audit reports to the committee.
Lawmaker Billy Osawaru urged the committee to enforce strict legal measures against the Office of the Auditor-General, emphasizing that such financial mismanagement must no longer be tolerated.
“This kind of financial recklessness must not be allowed to continue. The laws guiding financial audits must be strictly adhered to,” Osawaru stated.
To ensure a thorough investigation, the committee formed a five-member sub-committee, led by Tochukwu Okere, to review the infractions and provide recommendations.
Other members of the sub-committee include Ajiya Abdulrahman, Mandara Usman, Mauruff Adebayo, and Mohammed Bargaja.
