Senate Threatens Sanctions Over MDAs’ Failure To Honour Invitations

The Senate has warned all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-owned Enterprises (GOEs) that continued failure to honour invitations from the National Assembly will attract sanctions in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The warning followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sani Musa under Orders 41 and 51 on the persistent refusal of several MDAs and GOEs to appear before Senate committees despite repeated invitations.

Presenting the motion, Senator Musa reminded lawmakers that Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of MDAs, GOEs and any organisation responsible for the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by the legislature.

He described the recurring failure of government agencies to honour Senate invitations as a direct affront to the authority and constitutional oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly.

Following deliberations, the Senate reaffirmed its constitutional powers to conduct investigations and exercise oversight over MDAs and GOEs. It directed all government agencies to honour invitations issued by the Senate and its committees and appear whenever required.

The Senate 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 agencies under their supervision comply with invitations from the National Assembly.

In addition, lawmakers mandated the Clerk of the National Assembly to communicate the resolution to all MDAs, GOEs, the SGF, the HoS and other relevant authorities for immediate compliance.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Mohammed Monguno described the motion as long overdue, asserting that the legislature must safeguard its independence under Nigeria’s presidential system of government.

“Where the executive displays executive arrogance or executive rascality, the parliament should rise to defend its independence,” Senator Monguno said.

On his part, Senator Abdul Ningi expressed concern over the growing disregard for legislative oversight, saying the development was inconsistent with the cordial relationship that existed between the executive and legislature in the early years of the Fourth Republic.

Ningi suggested that the Senate issue a final warning to defaulting agencies before formally informing President Bola Tinubu of the infractions if the situation persists. He proposed that the National Assembly could consider withholding budgetary appropriations for persistently non-compliant agencies.

Additionally, Senator Orji Kalu maintained that the National Assembly was being taken for granted and urged lawmakers to enforce their constitutional powers without waiting for presidential intervention.

“If they don’t come after we summon them, we issue a warrant of arrest,” the Abia lawmaker told his colleagues.