N’Assembly Moves Against Defiant MDAs

The National Assembly has threatened constitutional and legislative sanctions against heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) who continue to ignore invitations for legislative oversight, warning that such actions undermine accountability and democratic governance.

The Senate issued the warning after lawmakers expressed concerns over the repeated failure of some government agencies to appear before its committees despite several invitations.

During plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, senators unanimously adopted resolutions directing all MDAs and GOEs to comply with oversight invitations or face sanctions provided under the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws.

The lawmakers said the refusal of government agencies to honour invitations from parliamentary committees amounted to a direct challenge to the authority of the National Assembly and posed a threat to effective oversight of public institutions.

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Senator Abdul Ningi, who led the debate, warned that the National Assembly could no longer continue pleading with agencies to carry out what he described as their constitutional responsibilities, insisting that stronger measures would now be taken against defaulters.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole criticised the conduct of agencies refusing to appear before lawmakers, arguing that some institutions had also failed to comply with financial regulations and describing the situation as harmful to the nation’s economy.

Former Senate Leader Orji Uzor Kalu maintained that the National Assembly already possessed sufficient constitutional powers to compel attendance, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as the basis for enforcing compliance.

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Senator Halilu Ahmed also reminded lawmakers that Section 89(1)(d) of the Constitution empowers the legislature to issue warrants compelling the appearance of individuals or officials who fail to honour invitations.

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

The lawmakers resolved that institutions deliberately obstructing oversight activities would face sanctions under the Constitution, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Senate Standing Orders.

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The development came alongside a separate action by the House Committee on Federal Character, which ordered the suspension of recruitment activities by the Nigeria Revenue Service over alleged failure by its leadership to honour invitations from the committee.

The National Assembly said the renewed enforcement of oversight powers was aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources across government institutions.

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