Poor funding hampering our operations – Auditor-General

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, on Wednesday told the House of Representatives Public Account Committee that inadequate funding and poor release of approved allocations are hampering the operations of his office and limiting its ability to carry out its constitutional mandate. Chira disclosed this while defending the 2026 budget proposal of […]

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, on Wednesday told the House of Representatives Public Account Committee that inadequate funding and poor release of approved allocations are hampering the operations of his office and limiting its ability to carry out its constitutional mandate.

Chira disclosed this while defending the 2026 budget proposal of the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) before the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Presenting an overview of the office’s 2025 budget performance, the Auditor-General said persistent funding shortfalls created significant gaps in the execution of statutory duties, including the audit of government institutions at home and abroad.

According to him, the office was only able to audit five Nigerian foreign missions in 2025 due to lack of funds, even as it struggled with outstanding rent obligations in some locations and an acute shortage of personnel.

He explained that although N653 million was appropriated for foreign missions audit in 2025, only N371 million was utilised, leaving an outstanding balance of N282 million, representing about 56 per cent of the funds released.

“We proposed a budget of N3.4 billion for the audit of foreign missions, but the Budget Office gave us a ceiling of N633,849,824 for 2026,” Chira said.

He further revealed that just four per cent of the capital allocation to the office was released in 2025, a development he said significantly impaired its operational capacity.

While reviewing the proposed N15.88 billion allocation to the OAuGF for 2026, members of the Public Accounts Committee observed that the figure represents only about 0.027 per cent of the N58.4 trillion Federal Government budget for the year.

The lawmakers described the allocation as grossly inadequate for an office constitutionally mandated to audit over 1,000 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other government-funded institutions.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, said it was unrealistic to expect the Auditor-General’s Office to effectively scrutinise a proposed expenditure of N58.4 trillion with such limited funding.

He noted that budgetary constraints over the years had restricted the office to auditing just five foreign missions out of about 100 Nigerian missions abroad.

A breakdown of the 2026 budget estimate shows that N5.3 billion is earmarked for personnel costs, N5.6 billion for overheads, and N4.8 billion for capital expenditure.

Salam said, “The Office of the Auditor General for the Federation is meant to ensure that public funds are well spent and properly audited. Yet all they have to audit a N58.4 trillion budget is less than N6 billion.

“This raises serious concerns about our commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring value for money. This is the only office in the financial chain specifically mentioned in the Constitution, under Section 85, yet it remains grossly underfunded.”

He added that weakening oversight institutions through inadequate financing undermines transparency and accountability in public financial management.

“This is associated with weak institutions, which have contributed to the corruption ravaging our country,” the PAC chairman said.