Area Council Directors petition FCT civil service commission over alleged irregular appointments of treasurers

Aggrieved Directors of Accounts in the Grade Level 17 cadre of the Unified Area Councils Service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have petitioned the FCT Civil Service Commission over alleged irregular appointments of Council Treasurers, accusing the relevant authorities of disregarding seniority, merit, Federal Character principles and established public service procedures.

In a petition dated October 9, 2026, and subsequent addenda dated October 14, the directors called for the reversal of appointments involving Abaji, Bwari, Kuje and Gwagwalada Area Councils, as well as the resolution of a disputed retirement and vacancy issue in Kwali Area Council.

The petitioners alleged that Deputy Directors on Grade Level 16 had been appointed to occupy positions they consider Directorate posts meant for substantive Directors on Grade Level 17, thereby undermining the established career progression structure in the Unified Area Councils Service.

They urged the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission to investigate the appointments, publish the seniority list of eligible Directors of Accounts and ensure that future appointments comply with the applicable rules and merit-based procedures.

According to the petition, the latest developments include the transfer of the substantive Treasurer of Bwari, a Director on Grade Level 17 from the FCT, to Kuje Area Council, where he allegedly serves under a Deputy Director on Grade Level 16 appointed as Treasurer.

The directors further alleged that the vacancy created in Bwari was filled by a Deputy Director from Kogi State, while Abaji was assigned to another Deputy Director from the FCT, whom the petitioners described as a tribal associate of the Acting Administration Secretary of the Area Councils Service Commission.

They also identified Gwagwalada as being occupied by a Deputy Director from Niger State, noting, however, that the appointment predated the assumption of office of the current Acting Administration Secretary.

The petitioners argued that although the Gwagwalada appointment was made earlier, the current administration had allegedly sustained the situation instead of correcting what they considered an improper placement of junior officers in Directorate positions.

They maintained that the continued appointments had aggravated the alleged breach of seniority and equitable representation in the distribution of the Treasurer positions across the six Area Councils.

In their statistical analysis, the directors claimed that four of the six Treasurer positions were occupied by Deputy Directors, while the Kwali position remained entangled in a disputed retirement matter involving a former Director.

They described this as an 83.3 per cent concentration of what they consider irregularly occupied or unresolved Directorate positions. The calculation combines the four positions occupied by Deputy Directors with the disputed Kwali case; it does not establish, by itself, that any appointment is unlawful.

The petitioners also alleged that officers from the North-Central geopolitical zone accounted for five of the six positions, representing 83.3 per cent, while the South-East accounted for one position. They further claimed that the South-South, South-West, North-East and North-West geopolitical zones had no representation in the arrangement they examined.

The directors said the figures raised questions about compliance with Section 14(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Federal Character Commission Act, which they cited as the legal basis for equitable representation in public appointments.

They called on the Area Council Service Commission to review the geographical distribution of the appointments alongside the qualifications, seniority and service records of the affected officers.

On the disputed Kwali position, the petitioners alleged that the former substantive Treasurer had completed 35 years of service and received a retirement letter, after which her personal file was forwarded to the Area Councils Pensions Board for processing of her retirement benefits.

They claimed that the retired officer had refused to hand over the office and subsequently sought an extension of service despite an alleged earlier refusal by the Head of Service of the FCT.

The petitioners questioned the validity of her continued occupation of the position, arguing that the Area Service Commission should establish the status of the purported extension and determine whether the office should be declared vacant and filled substantively.

They consequently requested that the Commission direct the former Treasurer to hand over, subject to verification of the relevant retirement and extension documents, and appoint a qualified substantive Director to the position.

Another major issue raised in the petition concerns an alleged directive by the Acting Administration Secretary requiring aggrieved Directors to obtain endorsement or recommendation letters from their respective Area Council Chairmen.

The petitioners argued that such letters were not prescribed under the public service rules for appointment to the career position of Council Treasurer. They contended that the requirement could expose appointments to political influence and undermine the Area Council Service Commission’s statutory responsibility for staff appointments, promotions and transfers.

They also alleged that the directive had fuelled concerns about political patronage and possible financial inducements in the appointment process. However, the petition did not provide independently verified evidence establishing that any appointment was secured through payment or that any named official received an inducement.

In Addendum A, the directors cited provisions of the Public Service Rules and the proposed FCT Area Councils Service Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, arguing that the Area Council Service Commission should exercise its personnel-management responsibilities independently and in accordance with the law.

They specifically requested an investigation into the alleged introduction of extraneous criteria, the appointment process and a possible conflict of interest arising from the Abaji appointment.

The petitioners also invoked the Scheme of Service for the Accountant Cadre, which they said recognises the Treasurer position as a Directorate post and provides for career progression based on qualification, seniority and promotion.

They asked the Area Council Service Commission to produce the seniority list of Directors of Accounts, appointment letters issued to the affected Treasurers, records relating to the Kwali retirement and extension dispute, and other relevant documents in its custody.

In their prayers, the directors urged the Area Council Service Commission to set aside any appointments found to have violated the applicable rules, fill the positions with the most senior qualified officers in accordance with due process, ensure equitable representation and prevent political considerations from influencing career appointments.

They also called for an investigation into the conduct of the Acting Administration Secretary and measures to safeguard the autonomy and integrity of the Area Councils Service Commission.

The petition was signed on behalf of the aggrieved directors by Mahmud Abdulkadir Umar, Aliyu Musa Sokodabo and Muhammad Nazifi Aminu, identified in the documents as Directors of Accounts on Grade Level 17 serving in the Unified Area Councils Service.

Copies were addressed to relevant public institutions and oversight authorities, including the Head of Service of the Federation, the Federal Character Commission, the Public Complaints Commission, committees of the National Assembly responsible for FCT Area Council affairs and the Joint Union Action Committee.

The petitioners expressed confidence that the FCT Civil Service Commission would investigate the allegations and ensure compliance with the relevant public service regulations.