Underfunded Auditor-General's Office Raises Corruption Concerns in Nigeria

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Nigerian House of Representatives expressed alarm over the severe underfunding of the Auditor-General's Office, warning that the insufficient financial resources could worsen corruption in the country. During a session on the 2026 budget defense, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) highlighted challenges due to inadequate funding, hindering its operations and creating gaps in executing its statutory responsibilities.

The Auditor-General, Mr. Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, disclosed issues such as unpaid rent, insufficient personnel, and budget constraints, particularly in auditing Nigeria's foreign missions. The OAuGF requested N3.4 billion for the 2026 audit of foreign missions, significantly higher than the allocated budget of just N633.8 million, which is a mere fraction of the required amount.

The PAC observed that the current budget allocation for the Auditor-General's Office is grossly inadequate, constituting only 0.027% of the federal government's N58.4 trillion budget for the year.