The public accounts committee (PAC) of the house of representatives has demanded the exclusion of 22 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) from the 2026 budget over alleged failure to account for public funds and refusal to comply with legislative oversight.
Bamidele Salam, chairman of the committee, made the recommendation on Thursday during a public hearing on audit queries raised by the auditor-general for the federation’s annual reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The affected MDAs include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
Others are the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), ministry of housing and urban development; ministry of women affairs and social development, the Federal University of Gashua; the Federal Polytechnic, Ede; the Federal Polytechnic, Offa; the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; the Federal Medical Centre, Bida; the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi; and the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.
Those listed also include Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki; Federal Government College, Rubochi; Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri; Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria; and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board.
Salam said the MDAs failed to submit financial records and declined to appear before the committee to address audit observations bordering on non-compliance with financial regulations, violations of due process, and weaknesses in internal control systems.
The committee chairman said many of the agencies have also failed to submit audited financial statements, contrary to statutory requirements.
Salam said the national assembly must not continue to budget public funds to MDAs that disregard accountability mechanisms.
“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, in good conscience, expect fresh budgetary provisions,” he said.
“Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation.”
The lawmaker said the recommendation is a “corrective measure” intended to restore fiscal discipline and strengthen transparency.
