The Senate has tackled the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Shamseideen Ogunjimi, over poor releases of funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
The Senate Committee on Finance, also subjected Ogunjimi to intense interrogation on non-payment for contracts already completed and what lawmakers described as frustrating Centralized Payment System for contractors.
The Accountant General of the Federation came under fire, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance for the 2026
budget defence at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sani Musa (Niger East),
told the AGF that the attitude of his office to the Committee, was very unfriendly and must change for the good of all Nigerians.
“We are not going to take your budget until when we are satisfied that your office is ready to do things that will make things work for Nigerians through expected assurances from you.
“One of the issues that must be urgently resolved is the envelope budgeting system being used by the federal government on yearly basis but not producing desired results, requiring alternative model like performance based one,” he said.
In his comments, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), also told the AGF that the Senate and by extension, Nigerians in general, were embarrassed by poor budget implementation being experienced since 2024.
“Here at the National Assembly, we have never seen contractors in previous administrations bombarding us on weekly basis for intervention on non-payment of executed contracts as they have been doing this time,” he stated.
“Impression given to us and Nigerians by government is that with removal of subsidy and harmonization of forex market, there would be more revenue or more money; where is the money now? Why are contractors owed? And why was it zero allocation for capital votes of most of the MDAs in 2025?”, he queried.
Goje pointed out that the situation at hand in the country as far as poor budget implementation was concerned, was very embarrassing and baffling.
Similarly, Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South) in his comments, wondered why N28 triilion was reportedly generated by revenue agencies and yet 85% of contractors were being owed, and there was zero allocation for most of the MDAs in 2025 capital component of the budget.
Dandutse, who was visibly worried about the situation requested the Accountant General to provide answer on what happened to the N28 trillion.
“Even the introduced Centralized Payment System is not helping matter at all. The system is very compromised and seriously affecting the integrity of government,” he said.
Senators Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central) and Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North), among others, advised the AGF to tell President Bola Tinubu to look inward in guarding against sabotage under his administration.
In his response, the AGF told the lawmakers that indiscriminate contracts award made by many of the MDAs without availability of fund created the problem being faced at the moment, which according to him, resulted in the directive, banning MDAs from contracts award without availability of funds.
He explained that the challenges being faced with operation of Centralized Payment System were not envisaged, noting however, that they were being addressed for seamless operations.
“Yes, as the Accountant General of the Federation, my office is expected to disburse fund to relevant agencies at appropriate time but that can only be done if the fund is available because I must have the fund before I can disburse it.
“I also want to remind us that ‘Ways and Means’ used in the past for such funding is no more for the good of the Nation’s economy.
“We were having ways and means to fund the budget before. But this current President said, no more ways and means. Therefore, we should all live within the revenue that is generated”.
For further critical engagement with the AGF, the Committee thereafter, went into closed door session with him and never briefed the press on what they resolved in closed session.
