Reps raise alarm over ‘Grossly Inadequate’ funding for Auditor-General, warn of accountability risks

2026-02-11 - 15:19

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja The House of Representatives has expressed serious concern over chronic underfunding of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF), warning that depriving the nation’s supreme audit institution of resources could deepen corruption and weaken public accountability. The concern was raised by the House Committee on Public Accounts during deliberations on the 2026 budget proposal for the Auditor-General at the National Assembly. Lawmakers noted that the proposed ₦15.88 billion allocation for 2026 represents just 0.027 percent of the ₦58.4 trillion Federal Government budget—a figure they described as grossly disproportionate to the office’s constitutional responsibilities. The OAuGF is mandated to audit more than 1,000 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as well as numerous government-funded institutions. Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, said it was unrealistic to expect the office to effectively scrutinise a national expenditure of ₦58.4 trillion with such limited funding. He revealed that financial constraints in previous years limited the office to auditing only five out of about 100 Nigerian foreign missions. Salam also noted that in 2025, only four percent of the OAuGF’s capital allocation was released, hampering its operational efficiency. The 2026 budget proposal earmarks ₦5.3 billion for personnel, ₦5.6 billion for overhead, and ₦4.8 billion for capital expenditure. The committee emphasised that without adequate and timely release of funds—especially capital allocations—the office would remain constrained in deploying modern audit technologies, recruiting and retaining skilled professionals, and strengthening institutional effectiveness. Citing international best practices outlined by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), lawmakers stressed that supreme audit institutions require sufficient, independent, and secure funding to carry out their mandates without interference. They also highlighted the need for budgetary autonomy, recommending that audit institutions submit their budgets directly to the legislature or a designated parliamentary committee to safeguard independence. The committee warned that weakening oversight institutions through inadequate financing would ultimately undermine transparency and accountability in public financial management. “This is associated with weak institutions, which have contributed to the corruption ravaging our country,” Salam said. Lawmakers urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to prioritise increased appropriations and ensure full and timely release of funds to the OAuGF, enabling it to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate and curb corruption, waste, and mismanagement of public resources.