…warn that chronic underfunding can fuel corruption, erode public trust
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns over what it describes as inadequate funding for the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF), cautioning that persistent financial constraints could undermine accountability across government institutions. 
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, alongside other members, voiced their worries during the 2026 budget defence session with the Office of the Auditor-General on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Lawmakers emphasised that the Auditor-General’s office occupies a pivotal position in safeguarding public funds and ensuring transparency in government spending. They cautioned that failing to properly resource the office risks weakening oversight mechanisms and creating fertile ground for corruption to thrive.
Presenting a review of the 2025 budget performance, Auditor-General, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira disclosed that the office’s operations had been significantly affected by the delayed and incomplete release of allocated funds. The funding gaps, he explained, hindered the agency’s ability to fully execute its statutory mandate and planned activities for the year.
Among the most telling impacts was the limited scope of foreign mission audits. Due to financial limitations and staffing shortages, the office managed to audit only five of Nigeria’s foreign missions in 2025. In some locations, rental obligations remain unsettled, further compounding operational difficulties.
Although ₦653 million had been appropriated for the audit of foreign missions, only ₦371 million was ultimately spent, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦282 million — representing 56 per cent of the funds released.
Members of the committee maintained that strengthening the Auditor-General’s office through adequate and timely funding is essential to reinforcing fiscal discipline, enhancing public sector transparency and restoring confidence in governance.
He said, “We proposed a budget of N3.4 billion for audit of foreign missions, and the budget office gave us a ceiling of 633,849,824 for 2026”.
He further informed that, only four per cent of the capital allocation to the Office was released in 2025 which he said significantly impaired its operational capacity.
While reviewing the proposed N15,881,134,488 allocation to the OAuGF for 2026, the Committee observed that the amount represents approximately 0.027 per cent of the N58.4 trillion Federal Government budget for the year.
The lawmakers described the allocation as grossly disproportionate to the constitutional responsibilities of the Office, which is mandated to audit over 1,000 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as government-funded institutions.
Chairman of the Committee, Representative said that “it is unrealistic to expect the Auditor-General’s Office to effectively scrutinize a proposed expenditure of N58.4 trillion with such minimal funding”.
He further disclosed that due to budgetary constraints in previous years, the Office was only able to audit five foreign missions out of about 100 Nigerian missions abroad.
A breakdown of the 2026 budget estimate shows N5.3 billion earmarked for personnel costs, N5.6 billion for overheads, and N4.8 billion for capital expenditure.
Rep. Salam said, “And the office of the Auditor General for the Federation is the office that is ordinarily meant to ensure that those monies are well spent and well audited. And all they have to audit the sum is less than N6 billion Naira. For those who can do math, that’s what percentage of the total budget.
“Okay, 58.4 trillion Naira, the total budget. It raises some concerns, as far as I’m concerned, if we are really serious about preventing corruption and ensuring that we have value for money and ensuring that this office is actually well empowered or enabled to be able to carry out its statutory duties. This is about the only office in the finance chain that is mentioned specifically in the constitution, Section 85. Yet, like the Auditor General said, they asked for 16 billion Naira on overhead and they are getting only N5.6 billion”.
According to him, weakening oversight institutions through inadequate financing ultimately undermines transparency and accountability in public financial management.
“This is associated with weak institutions, which have contributed to the corruption ravaging our country”, he added.
The Committee therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritise adequate appropriation and full release of funds to the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to enhance its capacity to perform its constitutional mandate effectively and proactively prevent corruption, waste, and mismanagement of public resources.
