As they returned to office, newly inaugurated administrations in three of the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] bemoaned the councils’ empty treasuries, massive debts, and depressed workforce.
Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri, Chairman of the Gwagwalada Area Council, who revealed the situation in some of the FCT area councils, lamented that the immediate past administrations wasted resources on frivolities and left empty treasuries for the new governments.
‘We are having difficulty settling in and catching up with governance due to numerous issues inherited from the immediate past chairmen, who left office last month.’
“The new chairmen have not been able to form their cabinets to effectively begin work and are still busy with stocktaking because they encountered empty treasuries, a backlog of unpaid salaries/allowances, a massive debt profile, and a grossly dejected workforce known for absenteeism, indiscipline, and other forms of workplace malpractices.”
Jibrin Giri, who described the situation as pathetic, stated that if they had some money, they would continue from where the previous administration left off.
“So far, we have been attempting to put many things that went wrong in order to restore discipline in the councils.”
“Recall that we only took over three weeks ago, and we encountered many things in the administration of the councils that are not meant for public consumption.”
“We have three or four years before we leave office, and by the grace of God, the council will soon pick up and begin providing services to the people.”
Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar Umar, the executive chairman of the Abaji Area Council, recently made a similar complaint while swearing in the secretary.
“However,” he added, “I will assure you that we are working to correct those things.”
While wishing Nigerians a joyous Sallah celebration, the chairmen urged Muslims and Christians to live in peace and to support the Federal Government’s efforts to combat the country’s growing insecurity.
