By David Okoh
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Agricultural Subsidies, Intervention Funds, Aids and Grants Programmes has summoned the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Agriculture over the expenditure of funds released for agricultural programmes between 2015 and 2025.
The summons followed what lawmakers described as unsatisfactory documentation and gaps in accountability records presented at a committee hearing at the National Assembly.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Jamo Aminu, expressed dissatisfaction with the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to provide audit reports on several agricultural subsidy and intervention programmes within the period under review.
He said the investigation is part of ongoing efforts by the House to scrutinise public spending in the agricultural sector amid concerns over food insecurity, rising food prices and questions surrounding the effectiveness of past intervention programmes.
Aminu said the committee expected comprehensive audit documentation to enable it track disbursements, utilisation and outcomes of the various schemes 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,” he said, stressing that transparency and accountability were non-negotiable.
However, a Deputy Director from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adamu, told the panel that the delay in producing the reports was due to non-availability of key documents from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Adamu said the Auditor-General’s office had repeatedly requested 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 lawmakers to widen the scope of the investigation to include the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance, noting that both 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 Feb. 3.
The panel warned that failure to honour the invitation would attract legislative sanctions in line with the powers of the National Assembly.
