Reps call Accountant-General and six agencies over absence

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has called the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to appear before it on Monday, 13 July. They are unhappy with his repeated failure to respond to invitations and requests for official documents.

The committee also asked the heads of six Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to come on the same day. They warned that they would use their constitutional powers to make sure these people show up if they do not comply.

The committee made this decision during a meeting on Tuesday. The Chairperson, Bamidele Salam, said the Accountant-General's actions do not match the duties of his position.

Mr Salam mentioned that the committee has sent many letters to the Office of the Accountant-General in the past few months. These letters requested documents and invited the office to come before lawmakers. He pointed out that the responses have either been ignored or not enough. As a result, the committee gave what they called a final invitation for Mr Ogunjimi to come in person on Monday, 13 July.

The committee also criticized what they see as the Accountant-General’s lack of effort in presenting his office’s accounts and preparing Nigeria’s consolidated financial statements. They argued that such behavior sends the wrong message to other government bodies that are supposed to follow financial reporting rules.

“The Public Accounts Committee is also concerned that the Accountant-General is not being diligent in reporting his office’s accounts and in preparing the country’s consolidated financial statements, thus setting a bad example for other agencies of government,” Mr Salam said.

He stressed that the Office of the Accountant-General is very important in Nigeria’s public financial management system and should work closely with the National Assembly, especially the Public Accounts Committee. This committee is responsible for overseeing government finances and ensuring accountability.

He explained that the committee wants better cooperation from the office that manages the nation’s finances. He added that effective oversight relies on timely access to important records and the willingness of public officials to engage with the legislature. The committee chair reiterated that no government official or agency is above legislative oversight. Public officers must answer to Nigerians through their elected representatives.

The committee also issued a final summons to six MDAs whose chief accounting officers did not respond to earlier invitations:

• Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
• Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan
• Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN)
• Federal Ministry of Education
• Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology
• Federal Ministry of Police Affairs

The committee ordered the accounting officers of these agencies and the permanent secretaries of the affected ministries to appear before them on Monday, 13 July.

Mr Salam warned that the committee would use all constitutional and parliamentary powers available to them to make sure any public institution or official that ignores their invitations is held accountable. He stated that the committee is committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and the careful management of public resources through effective legislative oversight.

According to Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee and other committees can summon public officials, demand documents, take evidence under oath, and, when necessary, issue warrants to bring in people who ignore lawful invitations.