The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has given the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and other defaulting agencies 72 hours to appear before it over their failure to honour previous invitations to respond to audit queries.
The absence of the agencies on Monday stalled the
commencement of the committee’s special legislative oversight and public
hearing on the NEITI oil and gas industry audit reports for 2021, 2022 and
2023.
The hearing was convened to examine the audit reports
submitted by NEITI, which contain details of the operations, revenues,
payments, remittances and financial obligations of stakeholders in Nigeria’s
oil and gas industry.
The committee is also expected to assess compliance by
ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), government-owned enterprises,
regulatory bodies and oil and gas operators with the constitution, the NEITI
Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, financial regulations and other laws
governing the extractive sector.
More than 50 public institutions and oil and gas companies
were invited to appear before the committee between August 3 and August 25.
However, officials of the CBN, NUPRC, NDDC and NEITI failed
to attend Monday’s opening session and did not provide any formal explanation
for their absence.
Ibrahim Dankwambo, chairman of the committee, said the
hearing was organised to reduce the backlog of pending audit matters and
strengthen the senate’s oversight responsibilities.
“We scheduled this hearing in order to reduce the volume of
work before the national assembly and to promote and enhance our oversight
responsibilities as members of the national assembly,” Dankwambo said.
“Letters were issued, invitations were sent, and s were
placed in at least three national newspapers. Yet, more than one or two hours
after the meeting was scheduled to begin, our guests have still not arrived.”
‘IT’S BECOMING EMBARRASSING’
Babangida Hussaini, senator representing Jigawa north-west
and member of the committee, described the agencies’ absence as disrespectful
to the national assembly and Nigerians.
“It is a distraction to the institution of the national
assembly for any agency, by whatever name or designation, to refuse to appear
and answer audit queries that have been validly raised,” he said.
“I think Nigerians deserve better. Public funds have been
expended, yet accounting for audit queries has become a problem.”
Hussaini said members of the committee had cut short their
recess and constituency engagements to attend the hearing.
“This committee needs to take drastic action. It is becoming
embarrassing,” he stated.
“We have been here for over one and a half hours. There has
been no formal notification. The agencies expected to appear have not shown up,
and we are beginning to hear excuses.
“I think this committee is being taken for granted, and by
extension, Nigerians are being taken for granted. The institutional integrity
of the senate is being undermined.”
Patrick Ndubueze, senator representing Imo north, stated
that the agencies did not deserve a second opportunity after failing to honour
the invitations without explanation.
“It is unfortunate that we have all cut short our holidays
and travelled from our various homes to be here, only to be waiting for people
who are supposed to account for public funds,” he said.
“If the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria invites
the head of an agency and the person fails to appear, then something is
fundamentally wrong.
“I want to lend my voice that we should invoke the proper
constitutional powers and deal with this matter appropriately—without
hesitation, pretence, or favour.
“The proper consequences should follow. This is disgraceful
to the nation of Nigeria.”
Nasiru Zangon-Daura, senator representing Katsina north,
also criticised the agencies for failing to communicate with the committee.
“This reflects the level of commitment of government
agencies in this country,” he said.
“No letter was written. No excuse was offered. No
representative was sent to appear before the committee to explain why the chief
executives could not attend.
“They do not deserve this level of consideration. I support
the majority decision because it protects the integrity of this institution.”
Following deliberations, the committee adopted a motion by
Zangon-Daura directing the affected agencies to appear before it on Thursday.
Announcing the resolution, Dankwambo said the agencies had
been given a final 72-hour ultimatum.
“After consultation, we have agreed to move their appearance
to Thursday, August 6, 2026, unfailingly, so that we can continue our
legislative action,” he said.
He warned that any agency that failed to honour the
rescheduled invitation could face sanctions under the provisions of the 1999
Constitution and the senate standing orders.
Before adjourning the session, Dankwambo directed the
committee secretariat to formally notify the affected agencies of the
committee’s decision.
“Please ensure that you contact the affected agencies and
communicate how members of this committee feel,” he said.
“Also let them know that this committee and the national
assembly may invoke their constitutional powers if the agencies fail to appear
on Thursday, August 6, 2026.”
The committee is expected to continue the public hearing on
Tuesday with appearances by the office of the national security adviser (ONSA),
the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA),
the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Nigerian
Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and other invited agencies.
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