By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Shamseideen Ogunjimi, faced a grueling session before the Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday, as lawmakers expressed their frustration over poor budget implementation and the plating of contractors.
Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Committee, set the tone for the session, telling the AGF that his office’s attitude towards the committee was “unfriendly” and needed to change. Musa demanded assurances from Ogunjimi that his office would work towards improving budget implementation, warning that the committee would not approve the budget until satisfied with the AGF’s commitment.
Senator Danjuma Goje expressed embarrassment over the poor budget implementation, citing instances of contractors bombarding the National Assembly for intervention on non-payment of executed contracts. Goje questioned the whereabouts of the revenue generated from the removal of subsidy and harmonization of the forex market, asking why contractors were owed and why there was zero allocation for capital votes of most MDAs in 2025.
Senator Muntari Dandutse wondered why N28 trillion was reportedly generated by revenue agencies, yet 85% of contractors were owed and most MDAs had zero allocation for capital component budget in 2025. Dandutse alleged that the Centralized Payment System was compromised, affecting government integrity.
Other senators, including Abdul Ningi, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Adams Oshiomhole, Aminu Abbas, and Patrick Ndubueze, also criticized the AGF, urging him to advise President Bola Tinubu to address sabotage and improve budget implementation.
In response, Ogunjimi attributed the problems to indiscriminate contract awards by MDAs without available funds, leading to the directive banning MDAs from awarding contracts without funds. He explained that challenges with the Centralized Payment System were being addressed, emphasizing that his office could only disburse funds if available.
Ogunjimi reminded lawmakers that the past practice of using “Ways and Means” for funding was no longer viable for the nation’s economy.
The committee subsequently went into a closed-door session with the AGF for further critical engagement. The session highlighted the Senate’s frustration with the executive’s poor budget implementation and the AGF’s challenges in managing the country’s finances.
The committee’s scrutiny of the AGF underscores the importance of effective budget implementation in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and development. The outcome of the session is expected to inform the committee’s recommendations on the 2026 budget proposal.
The AGF’s appearance before the committee demonstrates the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency in budget implementation. The session also highlights the need for improved collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government to address Nigeria’s development challenges.
