Reps Demand More Funding for Auditor General to Curb Corruption

By Linda Ike

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged increased funding for the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) to fulfill its constitutional duties effectively.

During the 2026 budget defence on Wednesday, PAC Chairman, Bamidele Salam and members raised alarms over chronic underfunding.

Auditor General, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira highlighted 2025 shortfalls: only five of Nigeria’s foreign missions were audited due to poor fund releases, leaving N282 million unspent from a N653 million allocation (56% shortfall).

He said the office managed just four percent of its capital allocation, hampering operations amid personnel shortages and unpaid rents.

For 2026, OAuGF seeks N15.88 billion mere 0.027% of the N58.4 trillion national budget. This covers N5.3 billion for personnel, N5.6 billion for overheads, and N4.8 billion for capital, despite auditing over 1,000 MDAs.

Salam called the allocation unrealistic for scrutinising trillions. “The office meant to ensure monies are well spent gets less than N6 billion that’s what percentage of N58.4 trillion?” he asked.

“If we’re serious about preventing corruption and value for money, this office mentioned in Section 85 of the Constitution needs empowerment. Weak institutions fuel the corruption ravaging our country.” He added.

The committee warned that underfunding weakens accountability, transparency, and public financial management.

It pressed the Federal Government to prioritise full funding for OAuGF to combat waste, mismanagement, and graft proactively.