Ahead of the FCT Area Council Elections 2026, Statecraft Foundation has submitted Citizens’ Charter to FCT Administration, political parties and candidates, demanding financial transparency.
Statecraft Foundation formally submitted a Citizens’ Charter of Demands on Area Council accountability, transparency, and administrative effectiveness to the Mandate Secretary of the Area Council Services Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, as well as to political parties operating within the FCT.
The Charter was developed under the Foundation’s Local Autonomy in FCT Area Councils, LAFAC, project and reflects the priorities and lived experiences of residents across the six Area Councils.
In an address signed and read to the media by its convener and Executive Director, Emmanuel Obiabo, the Charter urged the Area Council Secretariat and political parties contesting in the Area Council elections to adopt practical governance reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots accountability, improving public service delivery, and rebuilding citizen trust in local administration.
Statecraft Foundation noted that Area Councils remain the closest tier of government to citizens in the FCT and are central to the provision of essential services, including primary healthcare, basic education, environmental sanitation, and community infrastructure.
However, persistent gaps in transparency, administrative efficiency, and citizen engagement continue to undermine their effectiveness.
According to the Foundation, the submission of the Charter to both governance authorities and political stakeholders is intentional. It reflects the understanding that sustainable improvements in local governance require not only administrative action but also political commitment, especially as parties articulate policy positions and campaign promises related to grassroots development.
Some top demands from the Citizens Charter include:
Actively engage residents and stakeholders in budget formulation and implementation.
Publicly disclose budgets, allocations, expenditures, and Internally Generated Revenue.
Execute and complete outstanding community development projects without further delay.
Urgently strengthen primary healthcare and basic education service delivery across Area Councils.
The Foundation described the Charter as a constructive governance tool rather than a protest document, emphasising its focus on dialogue, reform, and measurable outcomes.
It called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration and political stakeholders to engage with the Charter’s recommendations and translate them into concrete actions that improve everyday conditions for residents.
Statecraft Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, democratic engagement, and sustained collaboration with public institutions and political actors in pursuit of more accountable, responsive, and inclusive Area Council governance across the FCT.
