Reps committee cautions against poor funding of AuGF’s office
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has cautioned the government against underfunding the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF). It said insufficient financial support to the
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has cautioned the government against underfunding the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF).
It said insufficient financial support to the office could further weaken its oversight mechanisms and culminate in corrupt practices.
The committee gave the warning yesterday in Abuja while reviewing this year’s budget proposal of the Auditor-General at the National Assembly.
Advertisement
300x250
The proposed allocation of N15.88 billion for the OAuGF represents about 0.027 per cent of the N58.4 trillion Federal Government’s budget for the year, a figure lawmakers described as grossly inadequate relative to the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities.
The Auditor-General is constitutionally mandated to audit more than 1,000 ministries, departments, agencies, and government-funded institutions.
Committee Chairman Bamidele Salam said it was “unrealistic” to expect the office to effectively oversee a budget of N58.4 trillion with such limited resources.
READ ALSO: Iyabo Ojo is not an ambassador, nor awarded any gig — FAAN MD clarifies
He noted that budget shortfalls in previous years restricted audits of Nigeria’s foreign missions, with only five of about 100 overseas missions reviewed.
Advertisement
300x250
Last year, only four per cent of the capital allocation to the Auditor-General’s office was released, hampering its operational effectiveness.
A breakdown of this year’s budget proposal shows that N5.3 billion was allocated to personnel, N5.6 billion to overhead costs, and N4.8 billion to capital expenditure.
The House of Representatives stressed that timely and sufficient funding, particularly for capital projects, is critical for modernising audit technology, recruiting and retaining skilled personnel, and enhancing institutional efficiency.
The House committee also referenced international standards from the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), which call for supreme audit institutions to have independent, secure, and adequate funding to operate without interference.
The lawmakers reiterated that budgetary autonomy, allowing audit offices to present their budgets directly to the legislature, is essential for maintaining independence.
“Weak financing of oversight institutions undermines transparency and accountability in public financial management and fuels corruption in our country,” Salam said.
The committee urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to prioritise full and timely release of funds to the Auditor-General’s Office, emphasising that proper financing would strengthen its ability to prevent waste, mismanagement, and corruption.
