The Senate has issued a stern warning to heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs), declaring that those who fail to honour invitations from its committees will face constitutional and legislative sanctions.
The warning followed growing concerns over the repeated refusal of several government agencies to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa.
During Thursday’s plenary, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, lawmakers unanimously adopted resolutions directing all government agencies to comply with invitations from Senate committees or risk sanctions as provided under the Constitution and relevant laws.
Leading the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi described the persistent absence of agency heads before legislative committees as unacceptable, insisting that the National Assembly should no longer beg public institutions to perform what he called their constitutional responsibility.
He warned that the latest resolution should serve as a final notice to defaulting agencies, adding that the Senate would formally notify President Bola Tinubu of the development while also considering withholding budgetary allocations from agencies that continue to disregard legislative invitations.
According to Ningi, the refusal of government agencies to honour summons undermines the authority of the National Assembly and poses a threat to democratic governance.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that the responsibility for the non-compliance rests with the heads of the affected agencies rather than President Tinubu. He accused several institutions of disregarding the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Treasury directives, describing such actions as detrimental to Nigeria’s economy.
He maintained that the agencies’ conduct amounted to economic sabotage and should be treated accordingly.
Also contributing, Senator Oji Uzor Kalu insisted that the Senate already possesses sufficient constitutional authority to compel attendance without seeking intervention from the Executive arm of government.
Citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, Kalu said lawmakers have the legal backing to enforce compliance through the issuance of warrants where necessary.
He noted that key government officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, had previously demonstrated respect for the legislature by honouring its invitations.
Senator Halilu Ahmed also reminded the chamber that Section 89(1)(d) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to compel attendance through bench warrants, urging the Clerk of the Senate to formally notify defaulting agencies before invoking the constitutional provisions.
Some lawmakers, however, advised that while the Senate should enforce compliance, it must exercise its constitutional powers with restraint, fairness and decorum.
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At the end of the debate, the Senate resolved to call on 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 agreed that any agency or institution that deliberately frustrates legislative oversight by refusing to honour Senate invitations 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 seeking the immediate issuance of bench warrants against defaulting agency heads was withdrawn after procedural objections were raised during deliberations, while another prayer in the motion was also removed before adoption.
In a separate resolution, the Senate 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 accordance with Section 85(2) of the Constitution.
Aliero said timely submission of audited accounts is critical to strengthening transparency, accountability and effective legislative oversight of public funds.
The resolutions underscore the Senate’s renewed determination to enforce compliance with its oversight functions and promote greater accountability across government institutions.