The six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be interrogated by the House of Representatives on their expenditures beginning next Tuesday.
They would appear before the House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters after failing to respond to multiple invitations.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Frederick Agbedi, expressed displeasure that the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmud, and the six chairmen had been avoiding the invitation to explain how they had been spending money.
He chastised them, claiming that their actions disrespected the parliament.
He stated that the Committee was not conducting witch hunts, but that anyone in service must be held accountable.
Mahmud apologized for not being able to attend earlier invitations and assured that going forward, they would cooperate with the Committee.
Similarly, the Area Council Chairman for Kwali, Danladi Chia, apologised on behalf of his colleagues and pledged their cooperation in the probe.
According to a schedule provided by the Clerk of the Committee, Abaji Area Council is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Tuesday, July 23, 2024; Bwari on Wednesday, July 24, 2024; and Gwagwalada on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Additionally, Kuje Area Council will face the Committee on Tuesday, July 30, 2024; Kwali on Wednesday, July 31, 2024; and Amac on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The hearings are set to take place at 1 p.m. on the specified days.
Agbedi stated that the Committee had to adjourn the investigative hearing until next week due to the passing of a House member from Kaduna State, Ekene Adams.
Last Tuesday, the Committee had threatened to halt budgetary allocations to the FCT because the Area Council Chairmen and related agencies failed to honor previous invitations.