Senate threatens sanctions as MDAs shun oversight invitations

The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning, threatening constitutional and legislative sanctions against heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) that repeatedly fail to honor invitations from its committees. This strong stance was adopted following a debate sparked by the persistent refusal of several government bodies to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa.

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We must start by calling their attention that this is the last warning. Secondly, we will write to the President to inform him that this arm of government is not being respected. Thirdly, no budgetary allocation to any organisation that refuses to come

Presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Senate unanimously passed resolutions directing all government agencies to comply with committee invitations or face punitive measures in line with the Constitution and existing laws. Senator Abdul Ningi emphasized that the National Assembly could no longer plead with agencies to fulfill their constitutional obligations, describing their refusal as a direct affront to legislative authority and a threat to Nigerian democracy. He proposed informing the President of the disrespect and withholding budgetary allocations from non-compliant organizations.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) placed the blame squarely on the heads of the defaulting institutions, absolving President Bola Tinubu. He argued that many agencies also violate the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury circulars, characterizing their conduct as economic sabotage. Senator Oji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) asserted that the Senate possesses sufficient constitutional powers, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, to compel attendance without executive intervention, stressing that legislative oversight is the exclusive responsibility of the National Assembly.

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Mr. President should not be bothered about this matter. It is an indictment on the agencies that did not comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act or Treasury circulars. I consider this an act of economic sabotage

Kalu noted that the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had shown respect by honoring previous invitations. The Senate's move highlights a growing tension between the legislative and executive arms of government over oversight powers and accountability, aiming to enforce compliance and ensure that government agencies fulfill their statutory duties.

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This is not the job of the President. Our job is to do oversight. Sections 88 and 89 are there. If they don’t come, we raise a warrant