The Senate has warned that it may withhold approval of the 2026 budget for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, citing poor fund releases to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and unpaid contractors.
The caution came on Thursday during a budget defence session with Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, held by the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa. The committee refused to consider the 2026 budget proposal due to widespread complaints about inadequate fund releases in the 2025 budget and outstanding obligations carried over from 2024.
Senator Musa stated, “We are not going to take your budget until we are satisfied that your office is ready to take steps that will ensure funds work effectively for Nigerians.”
Lawmakers voiced frustration over what they described as poor budget execution, which has hampered government operations and left contractors unpaid. The committee revealed that over N2.2 trillion is owed to contractors, a situation deemed unacceptable.
Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) questioned the management of public funds, particularly revenues from fuel subsidy removal and earnings from government-owned enterprises that reportedly exceeded targets, asking, “Where is the money?” He noted that the National Assembly has received numerous complaints from contractors seeking intervention, calling the situation embarrassing for both the legislature and the country.
Concerns were also raised about inadequate funding for security agencies due to poor fund releases. Lawmakers urged a review of the Federal Government’s envelope budgeting system, advocating for a shift to a performance-based budgeting model to improve accountability and efficiency.
The Senate insisted that it would not consider the Accountant-General’s 2026 budget until clear explanations and assurances were provided regarding improved budget implementation and timely fund disbursement.
In response, Ogunjimi appealed to the committee to reconsider, explaining that his office can only disburse funds that are formally released. He added that delays were not entirely under his control, noting that the government’s payment platform had experienced technical issues but is currently being upgraded to enhance capacity and efficiency.
