By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that 2026 budgetary allocations be withheld from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), along with 17 other federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), over what it described as persistent accountability breaches.
The resolution was reached during a public hearing convened by the committee chaired by Rep. Bamidele Salam, on Thursday in Abuja.klljk
Lawmakers said the affected agencies had repeatedly ignored invitations and directives to respond to audit queries raised in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s Annual Reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Others listed for budget exclusion include the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal University of Gashua, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Federal Government College, Kwali, Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, Abuja, Federal Government College, Rubochi, Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, and FCT Secondary Education Board.
According to the committee, the agencies failed to submit key financial records and declined to appear before it to address audit observations bordering on non-compliance with Financial Regulations, breaches of due process, and significant lapses in internal control systems.
The committee further noted that several of the agencies had not submitted audited financial statements for periods ranging from three to five years or more, in contravention of statutory requirements.
Speaking at the hearing, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Salam, said the legislature cannot continue to approve public funds for institutions that sidestep accountability.
“Public funds are held in trust for the Nigerian people. Any agency that fails to account for previous allocations, refuses to submit audited accounts, or ignores legislative summons cannot, in good conscience, expect fresh budgetary provisions. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation,” Salam said.
He stressed that the recommendation was intended as a corrective step rather than a punishment, aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and reinforcing transparency across federal institutions.
The committee maintained that the proposed suspension of allocations aligns with the provisions of the Financial Regulations 2009 and the constitutional oversight powers vested in the National Assembly.