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Senate Threatens To Withhold Approval Of Accountant‑General’s 2026 Budget
The Senate has warned that it may withhold approval of the 2026 budget proposal for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over continued delays in releasing funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the non-payment of contractors.
According to Naija News, the warning was issued on Thursday during a budget defence session between the Accountant-General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and the Senate Committee on Finance.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, stated that the 2026 proposal would not be entertained until the office provides convincing explanations and firm assurances of improved budget performance.
“We will not consider your budget until we are convinced that your office is prepared to implement measures that will ensure effective service delivery to Nigerians,” Musa said.
Lawmakers voiced strong dissatisfaction with what they described as poor budget execution, saying the situation has disrupted government activities and left contractors unpaid.
The committee disclosed that more than ₦2.2 trillion is currently owed to contractors, describing the development as unacceptable.
Senator Danladi Goje (Gombe Central) queried the management of public funds, particularly revenues accrued following the removal of fuel subsidy and increased earnings by government-owned enterprises.
“Where is the money?” Goje asked, demanding transparency on how the additional revenues generated by the Federal Government have been utilised.
He further noted that the National Assembly has received numerous complaints from contractors requesting intervention.
“This is embarrassing for both the legislature and the nation,” he added.
The committee also revealed that security agencies have expressed concerns over insufficient funding caused by irregular fund releases.
In response to the growing concerns, lawmakers called for an immediate review of the envelope budgeting system, arguing that it has not delivered the expected results. Some senators advocated for a transition to a performance-based budgeting framework to strengthen accountability and improve efficiency in public fund management.
In his response, Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi appealed to the committee to reconsider its stance on delaying the 2026 proposal.
He explained that his office can only disburse funds officially released to it, noting that the delays were beyond its direct control. Ogunjimi also disclosed that the government’s payment platform had encountered technical issues but assured lawmakers that system upgrades and expansions are ongoing to enhance efficiency.
Despite these explanations, the Senate insisted it would not proceed with approval of the 2026 budget proposal for the Office of the Accountant-General until satisfactory clarifications are provided and concrete commitments made to ensure improved fund releases and timely contractor payments.
The Federal Government has announced a ban on the spraying and decorative use of naira notes ahead of the 2026 Valentine’s Day celebration. The directive targets practices such as making money bouquets, cash towers, and decorative cakes with banknotes.
According to government authorities, these actions go against Nigeria’s currency laws and will no longer be tolerated.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has described the trend as an abuse of the national currency. It warned that shaping, folding, spraying, or designing banknotes for gifts and ceremonies amounts to defacing legal tender.
According to the bank, the naira is a national symbol and must be handled with care and respect. Officials stressed that treating money as party decoration weakens its dignity and public value.
The government also cautioned event planners, gift vendors, and individuals who engage in such displays. It said anyone found producing or using money bouquets and similar items risks arrest and possible prosecution under existing laws.
Security agencies and regulatory bodies have been directed to monitor public events and commercial activities during the Valentine period. Enforcement will focus on parties, weddings, and street celebrations where cash spraying and money designs are common.
Nigerians were advised to choose alternative gift options such as flowers, cards, or packaged items instead of cash displays. The government noted that love and celebration should not involve damaging the country’s currency.
The warning comes as Valentine’s Day approaches, a season known for increased use of cash-themed gifts and public spraying of naira at romantic events.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to return to Nigeria within the next 48 hours amid speculation that he had gone into self-exile.
Sources close to the former governor told Premium Times that he is expected to arrive in Abuja shortly and has formally notified the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of his intention to appear at its office by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 16.
El-Rufai, in a brief interview with with the aforementioned platform, confirmed his imminent return.
The former governor travelled abroad on November 30, 2025, after attending social engagements in Lagos the previous day. During his absence, the EFCC reportedly delivered a letter of invitation to his residence in December 2025, triggering widespread speculation that he could face arrest upon returning to the country.
Anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), are currently investigating corruption allegations linked to his tenure as governor. El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has described the investigations as politically motivated persecution.
El-Rufai played a significant role in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He was among APC governors who championed the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South, citing an unwritten power-sharing understanding within the party during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Following Tinubu’s inauguration, El-Rufai was nominated as a minister. However, the Senate declined to confirm his nomination, reportedly based on a security report. He subsequently declined reconsideration and suggested a former appointee as a replacement.
Since then, relations between El-Rufai and the President have deteriorated. The former governor exited the APC last year and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), emerging as one of Tinubu’s most outspoken critics. In March 2024, El-Rufai’s successor, Uba Sani, initiated a probe into his administration. The former governor challenged the outcome of the probe report at the Federal High Court.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu as the Managing Director of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja.
Naija News reports that the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) is responsible for conducting research and development in technology and for operating a nuclear research facility.
According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu also appointed Engr. Adesayo Olusegun Michael as the Managing Director/CEO of the Board of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Other Board members of NEMSA appointed by the President include: Engr. Aliyu Abdulazeez (Executive Director, Technical); Ikechi Clara Nwosu (Chairman, South East); Zubair Abdur’rauf Idris (Member); Igba Elizabeth (Member-North Central); Sani Alhaji Shehu (Member–North East); Adeyemi Adetunji (Member–South West); Engr Emmanuel Eneji Nkpe (Member–South South) and Engr. Charles Ogbonna Asogwa (South East).
Similarly, the President nominated Amina Gamawa, representing Bauchi, and Abdullahi Muktar, representing Kaduna, as Commissioners to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Onanuga added that the President has sent the names of the two nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
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