SENATE WARNS AGENCIES IGNORING INVITATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONSEQUENCES
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Senate on Wednesday moved to summon the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and about 40 other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over their alleged refusal to respond to invitations seeking explanations on the management of public funds.
The decision followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, who accused several government institutions of obstructing legislative oversight by failing to appear before the committee investigating revenue remittances, operating surpluses and compliance with financial regulations.
Musa said the committee’s actions were backed by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the National Assembly to investigate the finances and administration of public institutions.
“As part of our constitutional responsibilities under Sections 88 and 89, the Senate Committee on Finance regularly conducts investigative hearings to examine the financial operations of government-owned enterprises and MDAs,” he said.
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According to him, the exercise is designed to scrutinise internally generated revenue, stamp duty collections, operating surpluses and statutory remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The senator, however, expressed concern that despite several invitations, many agencies had either ignored the committee or declined to appear.
He noted that some agencies had even argued that they were not obligated to honour the invitations or provide the requested information, despite the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight powers.
Musa warned that such conduct could weaken legislative oversight, reduce transparency and undermine accountability in the management of public resources.
He further alleged that some revenue-generating agencies were violating the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Finance Act 2022 by retaining government revenues instead of remitting them as required by law.
“Most of them fail to comply with remittance regulations. Rather than remit the required amounts, they retain a substantial portion of the revenue and transfer only a fraction. They must be called to order,” he said.
The lawmaker added that some agencies had allegedly withheld funds due to the Federal Government since 2020 and would be required to account for and refund such monies after reconciliation by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.
Contributing to the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio rejected claims that Senate committees lacked the authority to summon government agencies.
“What we are discussing is the claim that the Senate Committee lacks the power to invite them. The Senate has that power. The National Assembly has that power, and it is clearly provided for in the Constitution,” Akpabio said.
He directed the Finance Committee to present a substantive motion that would empower the Senate to compel the affected agencies to appear before the National Assembly.
Akpabio also warned that agencies that continue to disregard legislative invitations could face constitutional sanctions.
Among the agencies listed for summons are the CBN, NNPCL, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Others include the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NNPCL Retail Limited, Nigerian Commodity Exchange, Nigerian Ports Authority, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
Also affected are the National Examinations Council, National Inland Waterways Authority, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, National Insurance Commission, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, among others.
The Senate subsequently adopted the motion through a voice vote, paving the way for the formal summons of the affected agencies as part of efforts to strengthen fiscal accountability and oversight of public funds.
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