The House of Representatives will next Tuesday flag off the investigation into the utilisation of budgetary allocations of the six Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils.
Chairman, House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Hon. Frederick Agbedi, disclosed this during an investigative hearing which was attended by the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmud and the Chairmen of the six Area Councils.
While expressing displeasure over the chairmen’s refusal to honour a series of invitations sent by the Committee to explain how they have been spending money, Hon. Agbedi described their action as contempt against the Parliament.
Hon. Agbedi, who explained that the Committee was not witch-hunting anyone, however, maintained that all the political and public office holders must be accountable.
In her remarks, the FCT Minister of State, Mahmud apologised for not being able to meet up on earlier invitations and promised that subsequently, they would work with the Committee.
Also, the Area Council Chairman for Kwali, Danladi Chia, apologised on behalf of his colleagues and promised that they be cooperative in the probe.
According to a schedule provided by the Clerk of the Committee, Abaji Area Council would appear before the Committee on Tuesday, July 23; Bwari on Wednesday, July 24, and Gwagwalada on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Also, the Kuje Area Council would face the Committee on Tuesday, July 30; Kwali on Wednesday, July 31, and AMAC on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
In response to their respective submissions, the Committee resolved to adjourn the investigative hearing till next week Tuesday as a result of the demise of a member of the House from Kaduna State, Hon. Ekene Adams.
Recall that 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.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
