The Senate’s planned probe of the 2021–2023 audit reports on Nigeria’s oil and gas industry conducted by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) suffered a setback on Monday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and NEITI failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe North), had scheduled a three-week investigative hearing to examine audit findings contained in the NEITI reports and invite the heads and management of the affected agencies to respond to observations and audit queries.
However, when proceedings commenced, none of the invited agencies was present.
The committee’s Clerk informed members that invitation letters had been dispatched to the affected agencies on July 9, 2026, while notices announcing the hearing dates were also published on July 23 in three national newspapers.
Despite these efforts, no formal communication was received from the CBN, NDDC, NUPRC or NEITI explaining their absence.
Expressing disappointment, Senator Dankwabo said the hearing is convened to clear outstanding audit queries and strengthen the Senate’s oversight responsibilities.
He noted that the continued failure of government agencies to honour legislative invitations is becoming a recurring challenge that undermines accountability and the authority of the National Assembly.
Following deliberations, the committee resolved to reschedule the hearing to Thursday, August 6, 2026, directing the affected agencies to appear unfailingly or face sanctions in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Senate Standing Orders.
Earlier, a member of the committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), urged the committee to invoke its constitutional powers against the defaulting agencies.
Relying on Sections 47 and 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Senate Standing Orders, Hussaini said the committee derives its oversight powers from those provisions and described the agencies’ failure to honour the summons as a grave disrespect to the National Assembly.
He said it is unacceptable for any agency entrusted with public funds to ignore valid audit queries raised by the Auditor-General for the Federation, adding that the committee and by extension, Nigerians, are being taken for granted.
Also speaking, Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North) argued that the agencies do not deserve another opportunity to appear before the committee.
He noted that none of the affected agencies wrote to seek an adjournment, offered any explanation for their absence or sent representatives to the hearing.
According to him, such conduct reflects the level of commitment of some government agencies to accountability and legislative oversight.
Although some members advocated immediate sanctions, the committee resolved to grant the agencies one final opportunity to appear on August 6, warning that failure to honour the rescheduled invitation would attract appropriate legislative action.
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(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
