House PAC Moves to Tackle Federal Audit Report Backlog

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has pledged to address the long-standing backlog of federal audit reports, committing to secure and review the 2023, 2024, and 2025 reports from the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

Chairman Bamidele Salam made the announcement during a weekend retreat in Ghana attended by PAC members, staff, and key stakeholders. He noted that when the current panel assumed office in 2023, the most recent audit report available was from 2019, highlighting a significant accountability gap.

“Through sustained engagement with the Auditor-General and Accountant-General, we have obtained the 2020, 2021, and 2022 reports. While this marks progress, it still falls short of expectations, as we are already in 2026,” Salam said.

The committee plans to convene a high-level stakeholders’ meeting immediately after the retreat, involving the Auditor-General, Accountant-General, Financial Reporting Council, and other relevant institutions, to establish a clear timeline for clearing the outstanding reports. Salam expressed optimism that significant progress would be made before the end of the year, particularly regarding the 2023–2025 audits.

He described the retreat as a key platform for stock-taking, performance evaluation, and strategic planning, allowing the committee to set clear objectives and metrics for the 2026 legislative year.

Delays in audit submissions have long hindered PAC’s oversight role, limiting its ability to examine government accounts, probe financial irregularities, and hold Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) accountable. Such delays reduce the deterrent effect of legislative scrutiny and undermine fiscal discipline and transparency.

Deputy Chairman Jeremiah Umaru emphasised PAC’s role in revenue recovery and curbing financial leakages. “Financial leakages within the system remain alarming. This retreat strengthens our capacity to engage stakeholders and ensure our oversight delivers tangible outcomes,” he said.

Clerk of the committee, Ogunsanya Titus, described the retreat as a strategic move to enhance PAC’s effectiveness. “Thorough preparation yields better results than hasty action. The retreat allowed us to review past performance, assess challenges, and plan a clearer path forward,” he said.

PAC consultant Dr Samuel Ibrahim added that the training sessions were designed to boost both technical skills and soft skills, including stakeholder engagement, critical for effective oversight and collaborative problem-solving.

The committee’s renewed focus signals a determined effort to reinforce fiscal accountability and ensure that government agencies properly account for public funds.