Alleged Breaches: Reps Panel Recommends Excluding NIMET, FHA, SON 19 Other Agencies From 2026 Budget

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has recommended that, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMeT), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and 19 other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), be excluded from the 2026 budget allocations, over persistent failure to account for public funds and refusal to comply with legislative oversight.

Other agencies include; National Insurance Commission (NAICOM); National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB); Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Development; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; Federal University of Gashua and Federal Polytechnic, Ede.

The rest include; Federal Polytechnic, Offa; Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Bida; Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi; Federal Medical Centre, 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, Hon. Bamidele Salam and members made the recommendation during its public hearing on Thursday.

According to him, the resolution followed repeated invitations and directives to the affected agencies to respond to audit queries contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s Annual Reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Committee, the agencies failed to submit critical financial records and declined to appear before it to address audit observations relating to non-compliance with Financial Regulations, violations of due process, and serious weaknesses in internal control systems.

According to the Committee, several of the agencies have also failed to submit audited financial statements for periods ranging from three to five years and above, contrary to statutory requirements.

The Committee Chairman stated that the National Assembly should not continue to appropriate public funds to institutions that disregard accountability mechanisms.

Hon. Salam said, “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. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation”.

He further added that the recommendation is not punitive but corrective, aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and strengthening transparency across federal institutions.

The Committee maintained that the proposed suspension of budgetary allocations to the agencies is consistent with relevant provisions of the Financial Regulations 2009 and the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly.