House Committee Issues Final Summons to Accountant-General Over Repeated Absences

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has issued a final summons to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, following his persistent failure to respond to legislative invitations and requests for financial documentation.

During a sitting on Tuesday, the committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, expressed frustration over the Accountant-General’s continued non-compliance. Lawmakers warned that his refusal to engage with the committee obstructs constitutional oversight and undermines the transparency required in the management of public finances.

The committee reported that multiple formal requests for documents and appearances sent to the Office of the Accountant-General over the past several months have been ignored. Describing the conduct as “disappointing,” Salam emphasized that the office holds a strategic role in the country’s financial architecture and bears a responsibility to maintain a cooperative working relationship with the legislature.

“The Public Accounts Committee is concerned that the Accountant-General is not demonstrating the necessary diligence in rendering accounts or preparing the country’s consolidated financial statements,” Salam noted. He added that no public official is exempt from accountability to the Nigerian people through their elected representatives, stressing that the committee is prepared to utilize its constitutional authority to compel compliance.

The Accountant-General has been directed to appear in person before the committee on Monday, July 13, 2026.

In addition to the summons for the Accountant-General, the committee has also ordered the permanent secretaries of six other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to appear on the same date. These include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Federal Cooperative College (Ibadan), the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, and the Federal Ministries of Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, and Police Affairs.

The Public Accounts Committee remains the primary legislative body responsible for scrutinizing government expenditure. By reviewing reports from the Auditor-General for the Federation, the committee works to ensure that public funds are utilized in accordance with established laws and budgetary allocations.