By Anayo Akwitti
The Senate has vowed to impose tougher sanctions on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to honour invitations to defend their budgets or participate in legislative oversight, warning that persistent defiance will no longer be tolerated.
The resolution followed a motion moved on Thursday by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), who expressed concern over the growing number of federal agencies ignoring invitations from Senate committees to present their budget performance and account for public funds.
Senator Musa urged the Senate to mandate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and all ministers to ensure agencies under their supervision comply promptly with invitations from the National Assembly.
Leading the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi described the refusal of some agencies to appear before legislative committees as a direct challenge to the constitutional authority of the National Assembly and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.
He proposed a three-pronged response, including issuing a final warning to defaulting agencies, formally notifying President Bola Tinubu of the situation, and withholding budgetary allocations from agencies that refuse to appear before lawmakers.
“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,” Ningi said.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) absolved President Tinubu of any responsibility, insisting that the blame lies squarely with the heads of the affected agencies.
He argued that many of the agencies had also failed to comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury circulars, describing their conduct as harmful to the nation’s economy.
“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,” Oshiomhole stated.
Senator Oji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) maintained that the Senate already possesses sufficient constitutional powers to compel attendance without seeking intervention from the Executive.
“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 warrant,” Kalu said, noting that the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had consistently honoured invitations from the National Assembly.
Supporting the position, Senator Halilu Ahmed (Nasarawa West) reminded lawmakers that the Constitution expressly empowers the National Assembly to compel attendance through the issuance of warrants.
Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the adoption of far-reaching resolutions aimed at strengthening legislative oversight.
The Senate directed the SGF, the Head of the Civil Service and all ministers to ensure agencies under their supervision honour invitations from the National Assembly without delay.
Lawmakers also resolved that any agency or institution that deliberately refuses to appear before Senate committees or obstructs legislative oversight would face sanctions under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Senate Standing Orders.
In a separate resolution, the Red Chamber adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos West) and co-sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), directing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to regularly submit their audited financial statements to relevant Senate committees in compliance with Section 85(2) of the Constitution.
The Senate said the measures are intended to strengthen accountability, improve fiscal discipline and reinforce the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight of government institutions.
