Senate tells SGF and HoS to make MDAs respect lawmakers' invites

The Senate on Thursday told the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, to ensure that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that have refused to come before National Assembly committees obey lawmakers' invitations.

The Senate warned that it would not hesitate to punish any agency that continues to ignore committee invitations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced this after most senators supported the idea through a voice vote during plenary.

This decision came after a motion by Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), who shared concerns that many agency heads had repeatedly ignored invitations from the Senate Committee on Finance, which he leads.

The committee recently began looking into how government agencies managed their internally generated revenue and remittances from 2023 to 2025.

As part of this investigation, the committee invited agencies to explain how they managed and sent revenue during this time.

However, Mr Musa said some agencies did not show up despite several invitations.

He added that the agencies' refusal to comply was a direct challenge to the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.

He then urged the Senate to create laws that would make it mandatory for agencies to attend committee meetings or face penalties.

Many senators agreed with the motion when it was called for a vote.

Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) noted that the motion was necessary, stressing that the legislature must stand firm in Nigeria’s presidential system.

“Where the executive shows arrogance or misconduct, the parliament should defend its independence,” Mr Monguno said.

Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) pointed out that this situation was not in line with the friendly relationship that existed between the executive and legislature at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

He suggested that the Senate give a last warning to agencies that fail to comply before informing President Bola Tinubu if things do not change.

Mr Ningi also proposed that the National Assembly think about withholding budgetary funds for agencies that ignore their summons.

Similarly, Orji Kalu, the senator for Abia North, said the National Assembly was being disrespected and urged lawmakers to use their powers without waiting for the president’s action.

“If they don’t come when we summon them, we will issue a warrant of arrest,” he said.

After the discussion, Mr Akpabio put the motion to a vote, and most senators agreed with it.

He then instructed the Clerk to the National Assembly to inform all MDAs, government-owned enterprises (GOEs), the SGF, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and other relevant authorities for immediate action.