The House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee investigating agricultural subsidies, intervention funds, grants, and aids has summoned the Auditor-General of the Federation, alongside the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture, over the disbursement of funds for agricultural programmes between 2015 and 2025.
The summons followed the committee’s dissatisfaction with the documentation presented during its investigative hearing on Tuesday at the National Assembly, with lawmakers citing major gaps in accountability and record-keeping.
Chairman of the committee, Jamo Aminu, faulted the Office of the Auditor-General for failing to provide audited reports on several agricultural subsidy and intervention programmes within the period under review.
Aminu said the probe is part of the House’s broader effort to scrutinise public expenditure in the agricultural sector, especially amid worsening food insecurity, rising food prices, and concerns over the effectiveness of past intervention initiatives.
He stressed that the committee requires comprehensive audit records to properly track the disbursement, utilisation, and outcomes of funds allocated to programmes designed to boost food production, support farmers, and strengthen national food security.
“We cannot effectively carry out this investigation without proper audit records. These funds span a decade and involve critical national programmes. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable,” Aminu said.
Responding at the hearing, a Deputy Director from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adamu, attributed the delay in producing the audit reports to the non-availability of key documents from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Adamu explained that the Auditor-General’s office had repeatedly requested relevant records on agricultural subsidies, grants, aids, and intervention programmes, but had not received adequate cooperation.
“The primary source of these documents is the Ministry of Agriculture. Without them, concluding the audit process has been difficult,” he said.
He urged the lawmakers to broaden the scope of the investigation to include both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance, noting that the two ministries play central roles in the release, management, and oversight of agricultural funds.
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