Senate Threatens Sanctions as CBN, NEITI, NUPRC, NDDC Skip Oversight Hearing
The Senate has threatened to invoke constitutional sanctions against four key federal agencies following their failure to honour invitations to a legislative oversight and public hearing convened by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
The affected agencies are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), all of which failed to appear at the committee’s special legislative oversight session despite receiving formal invitations.
According to the committee, invitations were issued to the agencies on July 9, while the hearing timetable was also published in four national newspapers to ensure adequate notice and compliance.
The lawmakers described the absence of the agencies as a recurring pattern, stressing that the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities are constitutionally guaranteed and must be respected by all ministries, departments and agencies of government.
“The oversight powers of the National Assembly are backed by the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Senate. Public institutions are expected to honour invitations issued in the course of legislative oversight,” members of the committee stated during the session.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo, expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the agencies and warned that continued disregard for legislative invitations would not be tolerated.
The committee subsequently rescheduled the appearance of the affected agencies to Thursday, August 6, 2026, directing the committee secretariat to formally communicate the Senate’s concerns to their respective managements.
“The affected agencies have been given another opportunity to appear before the committee. However, appropriate sanctions may be invoked should they fail to honour the rescheduled hearing,” Senator Dankwabo warned.
The committee maintained that legislative oversight remains a vital constitutional responsibility aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources across government institutions.
The Senate reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all public agencies remain accountable to Nigerians, emphasizing that compliance with legislative oversight processes is essential for strengthening democratic governance and public confidence in government institutions.
The committee’s special legislative oversight and public hearing is expected to continue on Tuesday, with other ministries, departments and agencies scheduled to appear before the lawmakers.