Representatives launched an investigation into NECO for alleged unauthorized spending and budget irregularities

The House of Representatives has ordered a full-scale investigation into the financial activities of the National Audit Council (NECO) over alleged illegal virements, questionable budget execution, and possible mismanagement of internally generated revenue (IGR) between 2023 and 2025.

This follows the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance tabled on Thursday during the plenary session by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, who expressed concern over what he described as signs of fiscal indiscipline and possible constitutional violations within the agency.

While presenting the motion, Ogah reminded his colleagues that under Articles 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly has full authority to summon or request documents from any ministry, department or government agency to ensure transparency and accountability.

He noted that as a revenue generating body, NECO has a duty to operate with strict financial discipline and must be fully transparent regarding its income, expenditure and remittances to the Federation Account.

According to Ogah, there are strong indications that NECO may have carried out illegal actions – namely the transfer of funds from one budget to another – without the approval of the National Assembly, which he said was a serious violation of the law.

“If NECO actually carries out the virement without the approval of the National Assembly, then this is a clear violation of the law and undermines the fiscal accountability mechanism established by the legislature,” said Ogah.

He further explained that the DPR’s supervisory authority requires full access to NECO’s financial records to ensure compliance with the law.

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“Recognizing that in order to effectively carry out its mandate, the National Assembly or the relevant committee must have access to NECO’s budget/IGR performance and execution from 2023 to date. It must also peruse NECO’s bank account statements from 2023 to date. NECO must also provide proof of remittances to the federation’s account for the same period (2023 to date),” Ogah said.

He insisted that any unilateral cash flow action taken by the audit body without legislative approval is a “blatant violation of our constitution and an affront to the inherent authority of this Honorable House.”

After considering the motion, the House decided to mandate the Basic Education Committee and Audit Board to conduct a detailed investigation into NECO’s financial operations, focusing on budget execution, revenue generation, and remittances from 2023 to 2025.

The committee is directed to report back within three weeks with its findings and recommendations for further legislative action.

The lawmaker stressed that this investigation was necessary not only to uphold constitutional accountability but also to maintain public confidence in one of Nigeria’s premier educational institutions.