Reps Express Concern Over Poor Funding of AoGF’s Office Amid Rising Corruption

The House of Representatives has raised serious concerns over what it described as inadequate funding of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF), warning that persistent underfunding of the nation’s supreme audit institution could further entrench corruption and weaken accountability systems.

The concern was expressed by the House Committee on Public Accounts during the ongoing consideration of the 2026 budget proposal of the Auditor-General at the National Assembly.

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.

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 Bamidele Salam, stated 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.

Additionally, in the 2025 fiscal year, only four per cent of the capital allocation to the Office was released, significantly impairing its operational capacity.

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.

The Committee noted that without adequate and timely release of funds particularly capital allocations to the institution would remain constrained in deploying modern audit technology, recruiting and retaining qualified professionals, and strengthening institutional efficiency.

The lawmakers referenced international best practices as guided by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), which emphasize that supreme audit institutions must enjoy sufficient, independent, and secure funding to carry out their mandates without interference.

They also underscored the importance of budgetary autonomy, noting that audit institutions are ideally expected to submit their budget proposals directly to the legislature or a designated parliamentary committee to safeguard their independence.

The Committee stressed that 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,” Salam stated.

The House Committee therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize 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.