The Auditor-General of the Federation, as well as the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture have been summoned to account for funds released for agricultural programmes between 2015 and 2025
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating agricultural subsidies, intervention funds, aids and grants programmes has summoned the Auditor-General of the Federation, as well as the Ministers of Finance Wale Edun and the Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, over the utilisation of funds released for agricultural programmes between 2015 and 2025.
The summons followed what lawmakers described as unsatisfactory documentation and significant gaps in accountability records presented during a committee hearing at the National Assembly.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Jamo Aminu, expressed displeasure at the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to furnish audit reports on several agricultural subsidy and intervention programmes within the period under review.
He said the probe formed part of the House’s efforts to scrutinise public spending in the agricultural sector, particularly amid concerns over food insecurity, rising food prices and questions surrounding the effectiveness of past government intervention schemes.
Aminu said the committee expected comprehensive audit documentation that would allow lawmakers to track fund disbursements, utilisation and outcomes of the various programmes aimed at boosting food production, supporting farmers and strengthening national food security.
“We cannot effectively carry out this investigation without proper audit records. These funds span a decade and involve critical national programmes,” he said, stressing that transparency and accountability remained non-negotiable.
In response, a Deputy Director at the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adamu, told the panel that delays in producing the audit reports were due to the non-availability of key documents from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Adamu said the Auditor-General’s office had made repeated requests for relevant records on agricultural subsidies, grants, aids and intervention programmes but had yet to receive the required cooperation.
“The primary source of these documents is the Ministry of Agriculture. Without those records, concluding the audit process has been difficult,” he said.
He urged the committee to widen the scope of the investigation to include both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance, noting that the ministries play central roles in the release, management and oversight of the funds.
Following the exchange, the committee directed the Auditor-General of the Federation, alongside the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance or their designated representatives, to appear before it on February 3.
The panel warned that failure to honour the summons would attract legislative sanctions in line with the powers of the National Assembly.
