The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has begun hearings on ₦802.19 billion in audit queries involving government agencies, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled to appear on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The queries are drawn from Auditor-General for the Federation reports covering the 2021, 2022 and 2023 financial years. The committee proceedings are chaired by Bamidele Salam, lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo and Egbedore Federal Constituency in Osun State.
Key Highlights
- The Public Accounts Committee is examining audit queries totalling ₦802.19bn.
- About ₦514bn relates to NNPCL, while about ₦288.19bn relates to INEC.
- NNPCL’s queries include alleged deductions from domestic crude sales and Federation revenue.
- INEC’s queries concern procurement, contractor payments and statutory remittances.
- A payment exceeding ₦5.31bn for 2019 election smart-card readers was reportedly questioned over prior BPP approval.
- The audit queries require responses and supporting records; they do not by themselves prove wrongdoing.
Audit Queries Cover Multiple Government Agencies
The hearings cover issues raised in the Auditor-General’s reports for 2021, 2022 and 2023, including procurement procedures, revenue management, payments, statutory remittances and compliance with financial regulations.
The committee began proceedings on Monday with officials from institutions including the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Service Commission, Federal Colleges of Education in Okene and Gombe, and the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.
NNPCL Faces About ₦514bn in Audit Queries
A committee member, speaking anonymously, said the Auditor-General’s 2021 report contains queries involving approximately ₦514bn against NNPCL.
The issues reportedly include alleged irregular deductions of ₦343.64bn from domestic crude oil sales, ₦83.66bn in miscellaneous revenue said to have been kept in a sinking-fund account, and ₦82.95bn in alleged unauthorised deductions from Federation revenue.
The report also reportedly flagged a further ₦3.75bn shortfall connected to the sale of petroleum products. These amounts remain audit queries requiring clarification and documentation; they do not by themselves establish financial misconduct.
INEC Faces ₦288.19bn in Audit Queries
The committee is also expected to question INEC officials over approximately ₦288.19bn in queries reportedly contained in the 2022 Auditor-General’s report. The issues include procurement procedures, contractor payments and non-remittance of statutory deductions.
The committee member said some queries relate to expenditure during the tenure of former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, who has since been appointed an ambassador. The panel is also expected to seek clarification on spending connected with the 2019 general election.
₦5.31bn Smart-Card Reader Payment Questioned
One issue reportedly raised in the 2022 report concerns more than ₦5.31bn paid for smart-card readers supplied for the 2019 general election. The payment was questioned because prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had not been obtained.
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to give INEC an opportunity to provide explanations and relevant documents concerning the transaction.
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Audit Queries Are Not Proof of Wrongdoing
The House hearing forms part of the process through which government agencies respond to observations in Auditor-General reports. An audit query does not automatically establish that an agency or official committed an offence. Affected institutions can submit explanations, records and supporting documents before the committee determines whether further action is required.
Other Agencies to Appear Before Reps
Other institutions expected before the committee on Tuesday include the National Mathematical Centre, National Power Training Centre, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology and the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency.
The hearings are expected to continue as the committee reviews the Auditor-General’s observations and seeks responses from the affected institutions.
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