Nigeria Senate demands agency compliance with lawmaker invitations

The Nigerian Senate has issued a directive compelling the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Esther Walson-Jack, to ensure that government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) honor invitations from lawmakers. The upper legislative chamber issued a stern warning that it would not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions on agencies that persist in disregarding committee summons.

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The Senate would not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions on agencies that continue to disregard committee invitations.

The resolution was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following a majority voice vote during a plenary session. The decision stemmed from a motion sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance. Senator Musa expressed frustration that the heads of several agencies have consistently ignored invitations from his committee, which is currently investigating the management of internally generated revenue and remittances by government agencies between 2023 and 2025.

Senator Musa highlighted that despite repeated invitations, some agencies have failed to appear before the committee to explain their revenue management and remittance practices during the specified period. He argued that this continued refusal to honor invitations constitutes a direct affront to the constitutional oversight powers and authority vested in the National Assembly. Consequently, he urged the Senate to consider enacting legislation that would legally compel agencies to honor committee invitations or face punitive measures.

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The agencies’ continued refusal to honour the invitations amounted to a direct affront to the constitutional oversight powers and authority of the National Assembly.

During the debate, many senators voiced strong support for the motion. Senator Tahir Monguno emphasized the need for the legislature to protect its independence within Nigeria's presidential system, stating that "parliament should rise to defend its independence" when the executive displays "arrogance or rascality." Senator Abdul Ningi suggested that the Senate should issue a final warning to non-compliant agencies before formally notifying President Bola Tinubu if the situation persists. He also proposed withholding budgetary appropriations for persistently non-compliant agencies.

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Where the executive displays executive arrogance or executive rascality, the parliament should rise to defend its independence.

Senator Orji Kalu echoed these sentiments, asserting that the National Assembly was being taken for granted and urged lawmakers to exercise their constitutional powers assertively, even suggesting the issuance of arrest warrants. Following the debate, the motion was adopted by a majority vote, and the Senate President directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate the resolution to all relevant MDAs, government-owned enterprises (GOEs), the SGF, and the HoS.

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If they don’t come after we summon them, we issue a warrant of arrest.