Senate Threatens Sanctions Against MDAs Over Oversight Defiance

The Senate on Thursday warned heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) that they risk constitutional and legislative sanctions if they continue to ignore invitations from its committees.

The warning followed a heated debate over the repeated failure of several government agencies to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa, during an ongoing investigation into revenue remittances and financial compliance.

At the end of the debate, the Senate, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, unanimously adopted resolutions directing all government institutions to honour invitations from its committees or face sanctions provided under the Constitution and relevant laws.

Leading the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi said the National Assembly could no longer continue appealing to agencies to comply with what he described as their constitutional responsibility.

He accused some MDAs of undermining the authority of the legislature by refusing to appear before committees, warning that such actions posed a threat to democratic accountability.

“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.

Oshiomhole blames agencies, not Tinubu

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said President Bola Tinubu should not be held responsible for the actions of agencies that fail to comply with legislative oversight.

He argued that the affected institutions were responsible for their conduct and accused some of violating provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury regulations.

“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 said.

Senators cite constitutional powers

Senator Oji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) insisted that the Senate had enough constitutional authority to compel government officials to appear before its committees without seeking intervention from the Executive.

He cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to summon persons and enforce attendance during investigations.

“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,” Kalu said.

Senator Halilu Ahmed (APC, Nasarawa West) also referenced Section 89(1)(d) of the Constitution, which allows the legislature to compel attendance through warrants.

“The Clerk should write to all those MDAs, failing which the Senate should invoke its constitutional powers,” he said.

Senate directs SGF, ministers to enforce compliance

While some lawmakers called for restraint and urged the Senate to exercise its powers with decorum, the chamber resolved that agencies must comply with legislative invitations.

The Senate directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and ministers to ensure that agencies under their supervision respond promptly to invitations from the National Assembly.

It also resolved that institutions that deliberately refuse to appear before committees or obstruct oversight functions would face sanctions under the 1999 Constitution, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Senate Standing Orders.

A proposal to immediately issue bench warrants against defaulting agency heads was withdrawn after procedural concerns were raised, while another prayer in the motion was removed before final adoption.

In a separate resolution, the Senate directed all MDAs to submit audited financial statements regularly to relevant committees in compliance with Section 85(2) of the 1999 Constitution.