The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that 22 federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) be denied budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation.

The decision followed a public hearing on Thursday, during which the committee considered audit queries contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s annual reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The lawmakers accused the MDAs of persistent breaches of accountability and of refusing to submit to legislative oversight.

The agencies, according to the committee, failed to honour repeated invitations, declined to submit critical financial records, and refused to appear before lawmakers to explain issues bordering on non-compliance with financial regulations, due process violations, and weak internal control systems.

Those recommended for budget exclusion include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Also affected are the Federal University of Gashua; Federal Polytechnics in Ede and Offa; Federal Medical Centres in Owerri, Makurdi, Bida, Birnin Kebbi and Katsina; Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, Abuja; Federal Government College, Rubochi; Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri; Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria; and the FCT Secondary Education Board.

Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, said the National Assembly could not continue to appropriate funds to institutions that had failed to account for previous allocations and ignored lawful summons.

“Public funds are held in trust for the Nigerian people. Any agency that fails to account for previous allocations, refuses to submit audited accounts, or ignores legislative summons cannot expect fresh budgetary provisions. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation,” Salam said.

He added that the recommendation was aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and strengthening transparency across federal institutions, noting that several of the agencies had not submitted audited financial statements for between three and five years in violation of statutory requirements.

The committee maintained that the proposed action is in line with the Financial Regulations 2009 and the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight powers. (The Guardian)

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