The Senate has threatened to withhold approval of the 2026 budget proposal for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, citing persistent delays in the release of funds to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, and non-payment of contractors.
The warning came on Thursday during a budget defence session with Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, convened by the Senate Committee on Finance.
Chaired by Senator Sani Musa, the committee refused to consider the 2026 proposal, pointing to widespread complaints about inadequate disbursements in the 2025 budget and outstanding obligations carried over from 2024.
“We are not going to take your budget until we are satisfied that your office is ready to do things that will make things work for Nigerians through expected assurances from you,” he said.
Lawmakers voiced concern over poor budget execution, highlighting its negative impact on government operations and contractors awaiting payment. The committee stated that over ₦2.2 trillion is owed to contractors, a figure senators deemed unacceptable.
Senator Danjuma Goje pressed for clarity on the management of public funds, especially revenues from the removal of the fuel subsidy and excess earnings reported by government-owned enterprises.
He demanded transparency on the treasury and the use of increased Federal Government revenues.
Goje added that the National Assembly has received numerous complaints from contractors seeking intervention over unpaid contracts, describing the situation as embarrassing for both the legislature and the country.
The committee also noted that security agencies have raised concerns over insufficient funding caused by delayed disbursements.
Lawmakers called for an urgent review of the Federal Government’s envelope budgeting system, arguing that it has failed to achieve intended outcomes, and recommended a shift to performance-based budgeting to boost accountability and efficiency.
The Senate maintained that it would not entertain the Accountant-General’s 2026 budget proposal until satisfactory explanations and assurances are provided on timely releases and improved budget implementation.
In his defence, Ogunjimi appealed for reconsideration, explaining that his office can only disburse funds formally released to it.
He emphasised that the delays were not entirely within his control and noted that the government’s payment platform had faced technical challenges, which are currently being addressed through expansion and upgrades to improve efficiency.
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