The House of Representatives Committee on Justice on Wednesday questioned the revenue profile and budget presentation of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), as the agency’s Director-General, John O. Asein, disclosed that the Commission does not directly control or track some of its internally generated revenue.
Dr. Asein told the lawmakers that funds generated on behalf of the Commission are paid into the account of the Nigeria Customs Service, adding that the Commission only becomes aware of the actual figures when remittances are made to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to him, the arrangement limits the Commission’s visibility over what is being generated in real time, as it relies on what Customs eventually pays into the CBN account.
Earlier during the budget defence session held in Abuja, the committee criticized the 2026 budget proposal presented by the NCC, describing it as poorly prepared and lacking a table of contents. Members expressed concern over what they termed inadequate documentation and presentation.
While reviewing the Commission’s 2025 performance, lawmakers questioned why the agency generated only N7 billion in revenue despite having a N24 billion allocation. The committee demanded explanations for the wide gap between allocation and actual revenue generation.
The session was presided over by the Committee Chairman, Olumide Osoba, who stressed the need for improved transparency, accountability, and proper documentation in future budget submissions.
Despite the concerns raised, the committee approved the NCC’s 2026 budget proposal as a working document, with expectations that observed lapses would be addressed moving forward.