Reps Threaten To Sanction Edun, Kyari, Others Over Agric Funds Spending

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Agricultural Subsidies, Intervention Funds, Aids and Grants Programmes threatened to sanction the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, Minister of Agriculture,

Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, if they fail to honour the investigation.

This was the panel that summoned the trio of Edun, Kyari and Chira over the expenditure of funds released for agricultural programmes between 2015 and 2025.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Jamo Aminu, issued the summons at its resumed hearing in Abuja on Tuesday when it frowned at unsatisfactory documentation and gaps in accountability records tendered to lawmakers.

Aminu expressed dissatisfaction with the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation’s inability to provide audit reports on several agricultural subsidy and intervention programmes during 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 to 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 in the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adamu, told the lawmakers that the delay in producing the reports was due to the 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.

Adamu called on the committee to broaden the scope of the investigation to include the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, noting that both play central roles in the release, management, and oversight of the funds.

Consequently, the panel directed the Auditor-General of the Federation, together with the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, or their designated representatives, to appear before it on Tuesday next week.

The committee warned that failure to honour the invitation would attract legislative sanctions in line with the National Assembly’s powers.