Lawmakers direct SGF, Head of Service and supervising ministries to ensure agencies comply with National Assembly invitations.
The Senate has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-owned Enterprises (GOEs) that continued failure to honour invitations from the National Assembly will attract constitutional sanctions.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sani Musa under Orders 41 and 51 over the persistent refusal of several government agencies to appear before Senate committees despite repeated invitations.
Presenting the motion, Musa cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of MDAs, GOEs and organisations responsible for managing or disbursing public funds.
He described the recurring absence of agency heads as a violation of the legislature’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.
Following deliberations, the Senate reaffirmed its investigative and oversight powers and directed all MDAs and GOEs to honour invitations issued by the Senate and its committees.
Lawmakers also urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and supervising ministries to ensure agencies under their supervision comply with legislative summons.
The Senate further mandated the Clerk of the National Assembly to communicate its resolution to all MDAs, GOEs and relevant government authorities for immediate compliance.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Mohammed Monguno said the legislature must defend its constitutional independence whenever its authority is undermined by the executive.
Senator Abdul Ningi proposed issuing a final warning to defaulting agencies before notifying President Bola Tinubu if non-compliance persists. He also suggested withholding budgetary allocations to agencies that repeatedly ignore legislative invitations.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu called for stricter enforcement of the Senate’s constitutional powers, urging lawmakers to issue arrest warrants against officials who fail to honour summons without valid justification.