The Senate has warned that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) that fail to honour invitations from its committees will face constitutional and legislative sanctions.
The resolution was adopted during Thursday’s plenary following concerns over the repeated absence of several agencies before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led lawmakers in unanimously approving resolutions directing all government agencies to comply with invitations from Senate committees or risk sanctions under the Constitution and existing laws.
Opening the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi condemned the persistent refusal of some agencies to appear before legislative committees, describing it as a direct challenge to the authority of the National Assembly and a threat to democratic governance.
He stated that the Senate would issue a final warning to defaulting agencies, notify President Bola Tinubu of the situation, and consider withholding budgetary allocations to agencies that continue to ignore legislative invitations.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that the responsibility lies with the heads of the affected agencies rather than the President. According to him, many of the institutions have also failed to comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury directives, a situation he described as damaging to the country’s economy.
Former Abia State Governor and Senator Oji Uzor Kalu maintained that the Senate already possesses sufficient constitutional powers to compel attendance without involving the Executive. He cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to enforce compliance through the issuance of warrants where necessary.
Kalu also commended the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for consistently honouring previous invitations from the Senate.
Supporting the motion, Senator Halilu Ahmed reminded lawmakers that Section 89(1)(d) of the Constitution authorises the National Assembly to compel attendance through bench warrants. He urged the Clerk of the National Assembly to notify defaulting agencies before invoking the Senate’s constitutional powers.
Some lawmakers, however, advised restraint, stressing that while the Senate should insist on compliance, its powers must be exercised lawfully and with decorum.
Following the debate, the Senate directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and all ministers to ensure agencies under their supervision promptly respond to invitations from the National Assembly.
Lawmakers further resolved that any agency or institution that deliberately obstructs legislative oversight or refuses to honour Senate invitations would be sanctioned under the 1999 Constitution, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Senate Standing Orders.
A proposal seeking the immediate issuance of bench warrants against defaulting agency heads was later withdrawn after procedural objections, while another prayer in the motion was removed before adoption.
In a separate resolution, the Senate also approved a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero directing all MDAs to regularly submit their audited financial statements to the relevant Senate committees in line with Section 85(2) of the Constitution.
Aliero said the timely submission of audited accounts is crucial for effective legislative oversight and accountability in the management of public funds.
The resolutions reflect the Senate’s renewed determination to strengthen oversight of government agencies and enforce greater transparency and accountability in public administration.
