In an unprecedented move that underscores the Nigerian Senate’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAGF) has been denied its 2025 budget defence, potentially resulting in a zero allocation for the critical government institution.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Ahmed Wadada, took a firm stance against what it perceived as significant financial management shortcomings. The suspension of the budget defence process highlights deeper concerns about the Auditor-General’s office ability to maintain the very financial standards it is mandated to enforce.
“The budget defence is suspended until these grey areas are addressed,” affirmed Ahmed Wadada. “The Auditor-General and his team must present revised details before we can consider passing their budget.”
The decision to suspend the budget defence emerged from multiple critical observations:
Documentational Discrepancies: The OAGF failed to provide satisfactory explanations for its 2024 budget performance.
Spending Pattern Anomalies: Senators identified irregular expenditure patterns, with 65-70% of the budget reportedly spent in the final months of the fiscal year.
Potential Budget Duplications: Concerns were raised about overlapping budget items, including medical insurance and consulting expenses.
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Senator Kaka Shehu from Borno Central Senatorial District pointedly questioned the office’s accountability: “You audit other people’s accounts, but who audits yours? How do you justify seeking new funds without clarity on the funds not accessed from 2024?”
Senator Efe Dafinone, bringing over 30 years of auditing experience, expressed particular concern about the spending patterns, noting the problematic concentration of expenditures in the year’s final months.
This incident reflects a growing demand for transparency and accountability in Nigerian public financial management. The suspension sends a clear message that no government office is exempt from rigorous financial scrutiny, regardless of its oversight role.
The suspension of the Auditor-General’s budget defence represents more than a procedural challenge. It exposes critical weaknesses in financial management within an institution responsible for ensuring fiscal integrity across government agencies.
Senator Ipalibo Banigo highlighted potential budget duplications, specifically noting overlaps in medical insurance and consulting expenses. Senator Isunazo formally moved the motion to suspend the budget defence, citing the committee’s fundamental responsibility to audit the OAGF.
This unprecedented action suggests a more stringent approach to financial oversight in Nigerian government institutions. The OAGF now faces a critical opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the very principles of financial transparency it is meant to uphold.
