Area Councils’ dwindling governance over FCTA/Chairmen cold war

Following palpable cold war brewing between leadership of the FCT Administration and that of the six Area Councils, there are strong indications that there is looming dissipation of effective governance at the grassroots, due to the seemingly epileptic working relationship between both tiers of government in the Territory.

Checks revealed that most chairmen of the Area Councils neither report to Members representing the FCT at the National Assembly, nor the Area Council Services Secretariat on matters relating to the councils.

While some of the chairmen of the Area Councils have been accused of high-handedness in governance, others are accused of insubordination to the office of FCT Minister of State, which statutorily is saddled with the direct supervision of the Councils.

Some fillers from the Administration also hinted that most of the Councils’ chairmen are either always late or absent from several security meetings summoned by the Minister of State.

As succinctly captured by a reliable source, “despite several warnings and threats by the Minister of State, the chairmen still display lackadaisical attitude towards security matters in the area councils.

“They are either late or not present at such meetings. As a matter of fact, they are only punctual and physically present during the Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, meetings where monies are shared to the councils”.

Moreso, some of the chairmen who at different occasions, publicly alluded to their autonomy as elected officers not answerable to appointed officials, have been appointing chiefs in their council despite the ban on such appointments by the FCTA.

Recall that the FCT Administration had in 2016, suspended all chieftancy related appointment in traditional institutions across the territory due to the numerous complaints, petitions and legal tussles by interested parties.

In spite of the ban, checks have revealed that the chairman of Kwali area council, Hon. Chiya Danladi, has issued some persons with appointment letters to the offices of the District Heads of Yebu, Dafa, Kilankwa and Wako.

According to insiders say accelerated documentation by the Head of Administration at the Kwali Area Council for the various appointees preparatory to placing them on monthly allowances is been effected.

Furthermore, it was gathered that already meeting of all the Gbagi chiefs have also begun to fine tune and perfect plans for their official turbaning by the Etsu of Kwali.

Consequently, the chairman’s action, according to the source could be interpreted or assumed to be a deliberate calculated attempt to create disunity and throw the entire Kwali area council into chaos.

“Crisis is already brewing in Yebu chiefdom following the substitution of one Bulus Garba, as the successor to the office of the Yebu District Head by the chairman of the council”, the source stated.

Not left out, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Mustapha Adamu, was also accused of carrying out similar action, but later retracted the decision by withdrawing controversial appointments from some District Heads.

It was also learnt that the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has allegedly been notorious in using thugs, in the guise of consultants to generate revenues that are not remitted to government coffers.

In particular, a staff at the FCTA who also preferred anonymity, accused Candido of failing to consult the legal department of either the FCTA or AMAC in drafting legal documents before such consultancy jobs are awarded or executed.

“Things cannot continue in this ugly trend. The chairmen of the area councils should not be lords to themselves because they are under authorities.

“Besides the supervising minister, the National Assembly oversight the activities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration including the six area councils. Operating in silos will not help the system. Therefore, it is high time the relevant authorities call them to order,” the source affirmed.

Meanwhile, when contacted for official comment on the development,  the Special Assistant on Media to FCT Minister of State, Mr. Austine Elemue, said he cannot speak for the council chairmen.

Elemue said, “I agree with you absolutely that the Honourable Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, oversees the activities of area councils, but I am not in position to speak for them.

“ Each area council has a spokesperson and they are competent to speak for their respective bosses.

“However, the chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council has been punctual in our meetings, but as pointed earlier, I cannot comment on other issues”.