The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning to heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) who repeatedly ignore invitations from its committees, declaring that such defiance will now attract constitutional and legislative sanctions.
The resolution followed heated debate on Thursday after several agencies failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led lawmakers in unanimously adopting measures to enforce compliance.
Senator Abdul Ningi described the persistent refusal of agencies to attend hearings as “a direct affront to the authority of the National Assembly” and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that agencies risk losing budgetary allocations if they continue to disregard oversight summons.Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that the agencies’ conduct amounted to economic sabotage, citing their failure to comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury circulars.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stressed that the Senate already had constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 to compel attendance, including issuing warrants.
Other lawmakers, including Senator Halilu Ahmed, reminded colleagues that Section 89(1)(d) of the Constitution explicitly empowers the National Assembly to enforce compliance through warrants.
While some urged caution and decorum in exercising these powers, the consensus was clear: oversight must be respected.In addition, the Senate passed a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero directing all MDAs to submit audited financial statements regularly, in line with Section 85(2) of the Constitution, to strengthen accountability in public resource management.
The resolutions mark a tougher stance by the legislature, signaling its intent to enforce transparency and ensure government agencies uphold their constitutional obligations.
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