Senate Threatens Sanctions Against MDAs Over Repeated Snub of Oversight Invitations

The Senate has warned that heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) who repeatedly ignore invitations from its committees will face constitutional and legislative sanctions.

The resolution followed concerns over the refusal of several government agencies to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa, to account for their financial activities and other oversight matters.

Presiding over Thursday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led lawmakers in unanimously adopting resolutions directing all government agencies to comply with invitations from Senate committees or face sanctions in accordance with the Constitution and other relevant laws.

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

According to him, persistent refusal by some agencies to honour legislative invitations undermines the authority of the National Assembly and poses a threat to democratic governance.

“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 absolved President Bola Tinubu of responsibility for the agencies’ actions, arguing that the blame rests solely with the heads of the defaulting institutions.

He described the refusal to comply with legislative oversight and provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act as an act of economic sabotage.

Former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji 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 issue warrants against individuals who refuse to honour invitations.

Similarly, Senator Halilu Ahmed said the Constitution clearly empowers the Senate to compel attendance through warrants where necessary.

Following the debate, lawmakers 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 direct agencies under their supervision to promptly honour Senate invitations.

The Senate also resolved that any agency deliberately obstructing legislative oversight would face sanctions under the Constitution, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Senate Standing Orders.

In a separate resolution, the Senate directed all MDAs to regularly submit their audited financial statements to relevant committees, stressing that effective oversight and accountability depend on timely access to government financial records.