Senate President Godswill Akpabio has delivered a firm ultimatum to the chairpersons of standing committees in the Senate, warning that those who do not fulfill their responsibilities adequately will face replacement.
Akpabio’s remarks came during Tuesday’s plenary session, following concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central regarding the finance committee’s lack of oversight on revenue-generating agencies.
He underscored that the Senate leadership would take decisive action if committee chairpersons continue to neglect their duties. “If any committees are struggling to oversee their agencies effectively, we will reorganize the committee structure, bringing in those who possess the capability and readiness to fulfill these critical roles for the advancement of democracy in our nation,” he stated.
Additionally, the Senate President instructed committee chairs to submit reports on their oversight activities by January 2025. “I expect to receive reports from nearly all committees by January 31st detailing their activities thus far, so we can identify any challenges they are facing,” he added.
Akpabio expressed frustration over the apparent disregard shown by heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for invitations from the National Assembly. “Our authority is constitutionally backed, and I cannot understand why any MDAs or agencies would refuse to comply with the requests or summons from any Senate committee or the National Assembly as a whole,” he remarked.
Senator Aliyu Wadada, who chairs the public accounts committee, supported Akpabio’s concerns, sharing his frustrations regarding the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Despite multiple invitations, these agencies failed to provide satisfactory explanations about petroleum tax remittances.
Wadada revealed that the FIRS had submitted documents that appeared altered, which he deemed unacceptable. “The committee reached out to both NNPC and FIRS. The FIRS replied with documents that had been tampered with and claimed to be from JP Morgan,” he noted. “This situation is utterly unacceptable, and our efforts to resolve these issues have not succeeded.”
Akpabio’s stern warning, coupled with Wadada’s insights, underscores the urgent need for effective oversight and accountability in managing Nigeria’s resources.
