The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has strongly criticized several government agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for allegedly obstructing the efforts of the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in enhancing governance across Nigeria.
During a press briefing held in Abuja, the committee’s chairman, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (SDP, Nasarawa West), expressed his frustration over these agencies’ refusal to address queries related to the 2019 audit report. Since October 2023, the committee has been working on this report, but its progress has been significantly hampered by the non-compliance of these key institutions.
Senator Wadada specifically accused the leadership of these agencies of repeatedly ignoring requests for information, which, he asserted, undermines the National Assembly’s vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability within government operations. He warned that any agency that continues to disregard the committee’s invitations will be reported to the Senate Committee of the Whole during plenary sessions for further action.
The committee is tasked with reviewing the financial records of government bodies to ensure the proper use of public funds, and its findings are crucial for holding these entities accountable and preventing financial misconduct.
In addition to the NNPCL and FIRS, the agencies listed as obstructing the Senate and Tinubu’s governance agenda include the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (formerly DPR), and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment. Other agencies named include the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited.
Senator Wadada emphasized that while President Tinubu’s administration is committed to improving Nigeria, the uncooperative attitude of these agency heads threatens to derail these efforts unless they comply with their legal responsibilities. He expressed the committee’s deep dissatisfaction with the agencies’ unwillingness to respond to parliamentary invitations and account for their actions.