The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, has rejected the N5.112 billion total budget for Office of the Auditor General of the Federation as contained in the 2023 Appropriation Bill currently being considered by the National Assembly.
His was as the committee on Wednesday, summoned the insisted of Finance, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Sylva Okolieaboh and the Director General, Budget Office the Federation, Mr. Ben Nwabueze, giving the trio a seven-day ultimatum to appear and explain why the budget of such a strategic office should be so meagre.
Auditor General of the Federation, Andrew Onwudili had while briefing the Hon. Wole Oke-led committee disclosed that though the office proposed a total budget of N11.151 billion, what the budget office approved and put in the budget was N5.112 billion.
According to him, the office had proposed a personnel cost of N3.041 billion as against the N2.349 billion contained in the budget, a proposal of N5.59 billion for overhead costs as against the N2.113 billion, and a proposal of N2.52 billion against the N62.70 million contained in the budget estimates.
Reacting to the development, Oke said, “It is very important at this point in time to state clearly observations. We want to observe that, the government of President Buhari was elected based on his promise, determination to tame corruption, to humble corruption in our country.
“And one of the institutions, as a matter of fact, the fundamental institution which the crafters of our constitution put in place under Section 85 is the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation. By Act of the Parliament, we have created ancillary institutions like ICPC, EFCC to work with the products,, with the findings of the Office of the Auditor General’s office after due consideration by the Parliament.
“It is very unfortunate that we have noticed the concerted effort, determination to undermine the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation. To eradicate, to repeal illegally the Supreme audit institution of this country. We have seen the determination of the lieutenants of Mr President, particularly the minister of finance, the DG Budget office to undermine Mr President in his determination to wage war against corruption on the land.
“Otherwise, why would you allocate several billions to ancillary institutions and you are giving N62 million to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation to fund Capital? They have to go Cap in Hand to pay for worker? They are understaffed, they are undermined? They cannot conduct performance audit. As we speak, this office is yet to lay their reports in respect of 2022 and 2021 financial years.
“Or, are they telling Nigerians, that even the objectives laid by Mr President is determined to undermine this Supreme audit institution? Otherwise, Mr President would have assented that Bill presented to him, and this would have given the Auditor General’s office it’s rightful place in our country.
“We reject this budget.This budget cannot work. The Auditor General of the Federation, the minister of finance, the two of the are hereby summoned to appear before this committee, to come and tell Nigerians. The minister for finance, the DG Budget, the Accountant General of the Federation, the three of them should cause appearance before this committee and tell Nigerians why they are undermining the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation”.