Unused ₦9.4 Billion in USPF Funds Raises Concern, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo Calls for Accountability.

A member of the House of Representatives, Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, has raised concerns over the underutilization of funds allocated to the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), questioning why a significant portion of the released funds remains unused.

Speaking after a committee engagement on communications, the lawmaker acknowledged the revenue generating efforts of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). According to him, the commission has fulfilled its responsibility in contributing to national revenue by remitting over ₦101–₦102 billion to the Federation Account and achieving its revenue target of more than ₦250 billion.

However, Hon. Okonkwo noted that while the NCC’s performance in revenue generation is commendable, concerns remain regarding the utilization of funds allocated to the USPF.

He explained that in the 2025 budget, about ₦15 billion was earmarked for the fund, out of which ₦12 billion had already been released. Despite this, the agency reportedly utilized only ₦2.6 billion, leaving approximately ₦9.4 billion unused.

The lawmaker said this development raises important questions about the efficiency and pace of project implementation by the fund.

When an agency receives ₦12 billion and only uses ₦2.6 billion, it naturally raises concerns about what is happening with the remaining funds, he said.

Hon. Okonkwo further questioned whether the unused funds had been returned to the federal government or allocated to any specific intervention projects, noting that the operational structure of the fund makes such a remittance unlikely.

According to him, the situation calls for closer scrutiny to ensure that public funds are effectively utilized for their intended purposes.

He also expressed concern about the implications for the 2026 fiscal year, warning that additional releases to the fund without proper utilization of existing allocations could further compound the issue.

The lawmaker emphasized the need for oversight, suggesting that members of the communications committee may need to engage further with the committee leadership to ensure proper accountability.

He noted that carrying over a small percentage of funds into the following year may be understandable, but the current situation where only about 18 percent of the funds have been utilized while over 80 percent remains unspent raises serious concerns.

At a time when Nigerians expect to see tangible impact from government agencies, funds allocated for development and service delivery must be used judiciously,he added.

Hon. Okonkwo maintained that the question was raised to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in the telecommunications sector.