The planned probe of the 2021 to 2023 audit reports on the oil and gas industry by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) suffered a setback on Monday as key agencies shunned a Senate public hearing.
The management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), as well as NEITI, failed to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo (PDP, Gombe North).
The committee had scheduled a three-week public hearing based on audit reports presented by NEITI.
Miffed by their absence, the committee directed the management of the CBN, NDDC and NUPRC to unfailingly appear before it on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
Senator Dankwabo said failure by any of the affected agencies to honour the rescheduled appearance would attract serious sanctions as provided for in the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders.
A member of the committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC, Jigawa North West), recommended that constitutional provisions be invoked against the heads of the absentee agencies.
“I rely on Sections 47 and 60 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of our Standing Rules.
“The powers of this committee are derived from these provisions. It is a distraction to the institution of the National Assembly for any agency to refuse to appear and answer audit queries that have been validly raised,” Senator Hussaini said.
“This committee is being taken for granted, and by extension, Nigerians are being taken for granted. The institutional integrity of the Senate is being undermined. Drastic measures need to be taken in line with our rules,” he added.
Another member, Senator Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North), canvassed outright sanctions against the heads of the absentee agencies.
“Mr Chairman, this reflects the level of commitment of government agencies in this country. No letter was written. No excuse was offered. No representative was sent.
“To me, they don’t deserve to be given any second chance to appear,” he said.
Despite the boycott, the committee said it would proceed with the public hearing with expected appearances by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and other agencies.
