SENATE URGES MDAS TO STOP ARRIVING LATE FOR BUDGET MEETINGS
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By: Muftau Fatimo
On Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate reprimanded heads of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for consistently arriving late to budget defence sessions, warning that the upper chamber would no longer tolerate what it described as a growing culture of disrespect toward parliamentary oversight.
The admonition occurred during the 2026 budget defence of security agencies before the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, where lawmakers highlighted the punctuality of security chiefs in contrast to the habitual tardiness of other agency leaders.
The committee convened to meet with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and other intelligence officials.
While commending the security officials for arriving ahead of the scheduled 11:00 a.m. start, senators used the session to deliver a stern warning to the heads of other government agencies who regularly report late to similar proceedings.
Expressing his displeasure, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) warned that the trend must end, emphasizing that the Senate would no longer tolerate laxity during such a critical budget period.
He specifically criticized former senators and National Assembly members now leading executive agencies, accusing them of being among the most frequent offenders.
He remarked: “We commend the heads of National Security and Intelligence agencies for arriving ahead of the 11:00 a.m. scheduled start for the budget defence session.”
However, the same cannot be said for many other agency heads, particularly those who were formerly Senators or National Assembly members. This, Kalu said, is unacceptable, noting that the budget period demands the utmost seriousness from all stakeholders.
“The habitual latecomers often claim that delays are due to presidential engagements at the Villa, but to us, these are clearly excuses,” he added.
Kalu warned that failing to accord the legislature its due respect undermines the principles of accountability and transparency central to the budget process. He emphasized that the National Assembly has a constitutional mandate to scrutinize and approve appropriations and therefore requires full cooperation from the executive branch.
Supporting these remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), said the warning should serve as a wake-up call for erring agency heads. Abdullahi stressed that budget defence sessions are not routine formalities but critical engagements where lawmakers review revenue projections, expenditure frameworks, and agency performance before approving public funds.
In recent years, the Senate has intensified oversight of MDAs, repeatedly raising concerns over delayed project execution, inadequate fund releases, and weak accountability mechanisms.
Lawmakers have maintained that punctuality and preparedness at budget sessions demonstrate an agency’s commitment to fiscal discipline and effective public service delivery.
Wednesday’s events indicate that, beyond funding issues, the Senate is equally focused on enforcing institutional discipline as it reviews the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The committee then continued deliberations on the security agencies’ budget proposals, with lawmakers assuring that punctuality and compliance would henceforth be treated as key legislative priorities.
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