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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has resolved to tackle the long-standing backlog in federal audit reports, pledging to ensure the submission of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 audit reports by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF).
The committee lamented the prolonged delays in the audit process, noting that the absence of up-to-date reports has continued to weaken its constitutional oversight mandate.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, made this known at a weekend retreat for PAC members, committee staff and key stakeholders held in Ghana.
Salam recalled that upon the committee’s inauguration in 2023, the only audit report available was that of 2019, creating a serious accountability gap.
“When we assumed office in 2023, the most recent audit report before us was the 2019 report,” he said.
“However, through sustained engagement with critical stakeholders, especially the Offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General, we were able to obtain the 2020, 2021 and 2022 audit reports. While this marks some progress, it falls short of expectations, particularly as we are already in 2026.”
He revealed that the committee has agreed to convene a high-level stakeholders’ meeting immediately after the retreat, bringing together the Auditor-General for the Federation, the Accountant-General, the Financial Reporting Council and other relevant bodies to establish a definitive timeline for clearing the outstanding audit reports.
According to him, the committee is hopeful that significant progress would be recorded before the end of the year, with substantial closure of audit gaps for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Salam described the retreat as a platform for stock-taking, performance assessment and forward planning, adding that it has enabled the committee to define its priorities for the 2026 legislative year.
He stressed that clearly articulated benchmarks and performance indicators would help the committee track progress, adjust strategies where necessary and enhance overall efficiency.
“When objectives and performance metrics are clearly set, it provides focus and direction. It also makes it easier to evaluate, at the end of the year, how effectively the committee has discharged its responsibilities,” he noted.
In his remarks, Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Jeremiah Umaru, said the PAC has played a vital role over the years in recovering revenues and curbing financial leakages across government institutions.
He explained that the retreat was organised to strengthen the committee’s capacity, improve stakeholder engagement and enhance internal efficiency. “The extent of financial leakages within the system is alarming,” Umaru said.
“This is why we are here, to build capacity, engage more effectively with stakeholders and ensure that our oversight function produces stronger outcomes. With the chairman’s leadership and members’ commitment, we are confident of doing even more.”
Also speaking, Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Ogunsanya Olufemi Titus, described the retreat as a deliberate effort to reposition the committee for improved results. “A race you adequately prepare for will always yield better outcomes than one you approach unprepared,” he said.
He noted that the retreat provided an opportunity to review past activities, assess achievements and challenges, and chart a clear path forward.
Titus further emphasised that the PAC, as the only constitutional committee of the National Assembly, occupies a critical position in promoting fiscal discipline and ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) properly account for public funds.
Meanwhile, the committee’s consultant, Dr. Samuel Ibrahim, said the training sessions were timely and tailored to enhance both the technical competence and interpersonal skills of members and staff.
He explained that the programme blended technical sessions with soft-skill training, including stakeholder management, which he said is crucial for effective engagement, information gathering and achieving outcomes through collaboration rather than confrontation.
According to him, the technical aspects of the training would further empower the committee to more effectively exercise its constitutional oversight powers.