The Senate has issued a strong warning to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs), saying agencies that continue to ignore invitations from the National Assembly will face sanctions in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The warning followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, who raised concerns over the repeated refusal of several government agencies to appear before Senate committees despite being invited.
While presenting the motion, Musa reminded lawmakers that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of MDAs, GOEs and any organisation responsible for managing or spending public funds approved by the legislature.
He described the continuous absence of government agencies during oversight sessions as an attack on the authority and constitutional responsibilities of the National Assembly.
Following deliberations, the Senate reaffirmed its constitutional oversight powers and directed all MDAs and GOEs to honour invitations issued by the Senate and its committees whenever required.
The lawmakers also called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and supervising ministries to ensure that agencies under their control comply with legislative invitations.
In addition, the Senate directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to formally communicate the resolution to all MDAs, GOEs and relevant government officials for immediate compliance.
During the debate, Senator Mohammed Monguno described the motion as long overdue, insisting that the legislature must protect its independence under Nigeria’s democratic system.
“Where the executive displays executive arrogance or executive rascality, the parliament should rise to defend its independence,” Monguno said.
Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi expressed concern over what he described as the growing disregard for legislative oversight, noting that relations between the executive and legislature were more cooperative during the early years of the Fourth Republic.
He suggested that defaulting agencies should receive a final warning before the Senate formally reports them to President Bola Tinubu if the situation continues.
Ningi also proposed that the National Assembly could consider withholding budgetary allocations to agencies that repeatedly fail to honour invitations.
Meanwhile, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu urged lawmakers to take stronger action against non-compliant agencies, insisting that the legislature should fully exercise its constitutional powers.
“If they don’t come after we summon them, we issue a warrant of arrest,” Kalu said.
The Senate maintained that all government agencies must respect the authority of the National Assembly and cooperate fully with its oversight responsibilities.
