LunagisthubReps Slam Poor Funding of Auditor-General’s Office: A Threat to Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Architecture
The House of Representatives has raised concerns over the chronic underfunding of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF), warning that the trend could undermine Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture and weaken public accountability. The committee noted that the proposed N15.88 billion allocation to the OAuGF for the 2026 fiscal year is grossly inadequate, representing only about 0.027% of the N58.47 trillion Federal Government budget.
The underfunding of the OAuGF has severe implications for the office’s ability to perform its constitutional mandate. The committee lamented that due to budgetary constraints, the office was only able to audit five foreign missions out of about 100 Nigerian missions abroad. Moreover, in the 2025 fiscal year, only 4% of the capital allocation to the office was released, significantly impairing its operational capacity.
The lawmakers referenced international best practices as guided by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, emphasizing 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 House Committee has urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize adequate appropriation and full release of funds to the OAuGF to enhance its capacity to perform its constitutional mandate effectively and proactively prevent corruption, waste, and mismanagement of public resources.
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