The House of Representatives has scheduled a session for Tuesday, July 26, 2024, to question six Area Council Chairmen from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) about their expenditures.
These chairmen are required to appear before the House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters after previously failing to respond to several invitations.
Committee Chairman Frederick Agbedi announced this on Tuesday during a meeting attended by the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmud, and the six council chairmen. Agbedi criticized the council leaders for disregarding parliamentary invitations, emphasizing the importance of accountability in public service.
“The committee is not engaging in a witch hunt, but those in public service must be accountable,” he stated.
Minister Mahmud apologized for missing previous invitations and pledged to collaborate with the committee moving forward.
According to a schedule provided by Committee Clerk Matthew Okureka, the hearings will proceed as follows:
– Abaji Area Council: Tuesday, July 23, 2024
– Bwari: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
– Gwagwalada: Thursday, July 25, 2024
– Kuje Area Council: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
– Kwali: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
– AMAC: Thursday, August 1, 2024
Each session is set for 1 pm on the designated days.
Agbedi noted that the committee had to adjourn the investigative hearing to next week due to the passing of lawmaker Ekene Adams.
Previously, the committee had threatened to halt budgetary allocations to the FCT if the council chairmen continued to ignore its summons.
