Economy
2026 Budget: Reps Threaten Zero Allocation for SON, NAICOM, CAC, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended zero allocation for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), among others, in the 2026 budget for allegedly failing to account for public funds appropriated to them.
The committee, at an investigative hearing, accused the affected ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of shunning invitations to respond to audit queries contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s annual reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The affected MDAs include the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Others are Federal University of Gashua; Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Federal Polytechnic, Offa; Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Bida; Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi; Federal Medical Centre, Katsina; Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, Abuja; Federal Government College, Rubochi; Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri; Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria; and the FCT Secondary Education Board.
The PAC chairman, Mr Bamidele Salam, while speaking on the decision of the committee to recommend a zero budget for the defaulting MDAs, stated that the National Assembly should not continue to appropriate public funds to institutions that disregard accountability mechanisms.
“Public funds are held in trust for the Nigerian people. Any agency that fails to account for previous allocations, refuses to submit audited accounts, or ignores legislative summons cannot, in good conscience, expect fresh budgetary provisions. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation,” he said.
The panel maintained that its recommendation for a zero budget for the affected MDAs is aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and strengthening transparency across federal institutions and conforms with extant financial regulations and the oversight powers of the parliament.
