Concerns are mounting within the Kwali Area Council over the alleged continued stay in office of the Council’s Director of Finance, Miss Rabi Muhammad Loko, following her reported retirement from the public service.
The concerns were raised in an anonymous petition made available to Chronicles Reporters by an individual who identified as a staff member of the Council and requested anonymity over fears of possible victimization.
According to the petition, Miss Loko reportedly attained the statutory retirement threshold after completing 35 years of service on August 4, 2026. The petitioner alleged that she neither proceeded on the mandatory pre-retirement leave as required under the Public Service Rules nor formally handed over the affairs of the Finance Department upon her retirement.
The petitioner further claimed that her alleged continued presence in office has generated uncertainty among members of staff, who are questioning whether due process is being followed. The petition stated that, to the knowledge of staff, there has been no official announcement approving an extension of her service or authorizing her to continue performing the functions of the office after retirement.
The petition also alleged that Miss Loko’s management style during her tenure had attracted criticism from some staff members, describing it as high-handed.
As an example of the growing dissatisfaction, the petitioner referred to the recent payment of peculiar allowance arrears. According to the petition, the Executive Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel, approved the payment of seven months’ arrears for staff. However, the petitioner alleged that only six months were eventually paid on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The petition urged that the allegation be independently verified by the appropriate authorities.
The anonymous petitioner further alleged that there are reports within the Council suggesting that Miss Loko is seeking an extension of her tenure. However, as of the time the petition was written, the petitioner stated that no official approval or directive authorizing such an extension had been communicated to members of staff.
The petition also claimed that the matter has attracted the attention of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), alleging that the union is prepared to shut down the office of the Director of Finance on Monday should the retirement handover not take place as required. According to the petitioner, the union’s position is that the Public Service Rules should be applied equally to every public officer regardless of rank or status.
The petitioner appealed to Chronicles Reporters to investigate the allegations in the interest of transparency and accountability while urging the relevant authorities to clarify the status of the Director of Finance and ensure strict compliance with the Public Service Rules.
The petition further appealed to the Executive Chairman of Kwali Area Council not to allow the controversy to overshadow what it described as the early achievements of his administration.
Chronicles Reporters notes that the allegations contained in the petition remain unverified. Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Kwali Area Council, the Director of Finance, and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) are ongoing, and their responses will be published when received.