The Chairman of Kwali Area Council has reportedly ordered a sweeping overhaul of the council’s Finance and Accounts Department amid allegations of payroll manipulation and financial irregularities allegedly linked to officials who served under the immediate past administration.
Multiple sources within the council, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed that virtually all staff members in the Finance and Accounts Department have been replaced as part of what they described as a determined effort by the new administration to sanitise the council’s financial system and restore public confidence.
According to the sources, the decision followed the discovery of alleged discrepancies in the council’s payroll records. They claimed that the salaries paid to some workers did not correspond with the figures reflected in official payroll documents, raising concerns over the management of public funds and prompting calls for a comprehensive forensic audit.
The sources further alleged that many of the affected officials were loyal to former Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya, and had remained influential within the Accounts Department even after the transition to a new administration. They claimed the department operated with little transparency during the previous administration and alleged that financial decisions were tightly controlled by a small circle of trusted officials.
One source described the situation as “a system that functioned like a personal empire rather than a public institution,” alleging that internal financial processes were shielded from meaningful scrutiny.
Although no official report has yet been released detailing the findings that prompted the restructuring, the mass replacement of finance personnel has sparked intense debate within the council, with many employees viewing the move as the strongest indication yet that the current administration intends to dismantle entrenched interests and introduce stricter financial accountability.
As of press time, neither former Chairman Danladi Chiya nor any representative of his administration had publicly responded to the allegations. No independent investigation has yet substantiated the claims, and they remain allegations.
Political observers say the developments could mark a significant turning point in Kwali Area Council’s governance if followed by a transparent audit and, where warranted, lawful prosecution of anyone found responsible for financial misconduct.