Senate Gives NNPCL, CBN, NDDC 72-Hour Ultimatum Over Audit Query Absence

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a final 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and several other government agencies to appear before it over their failure to respond to audit queries.

The decision was reached during the committee’s meeting on Monday after representatives of the invited agencies failed to honour the invitations or provide any official explanation for their absence.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the invitations formed part of the committee’s constitutional oversight responsibilities and ongoing efforts to clear pending audit matters.

“We wanted to reduce the volume of work to enhance our oversight. The letters and invitations were issued, but our guests have not arrived,” he said.

Reacting to the agencies’ absence, committee member Senator Babangida Hussaini described the development as a display of disrespect towards the National Assembly.

“The committee has powers, and it is most disrespectful to the National Assembly for any agency to fail to appear to respond to audit queries. This committee needs to take drastic action. The Senate is being taken for granted, and that must stop forthwith,” he said.

Senator Patrick Ndubueze also advocated sanctions against the defaulting agencies, insisting they should not be granted another opportunity after ignoring the invitations without offering any explanation.

“The proper consequences should be laid down and carried out. They don’t deserve a second chance. If they can’t attend to this important arm of government after invitations were sent and no explanations were given, they don’t deserve another chance,” he stated.

After deliberations, the committee resolved to give the affected agencies one final opportunity, directing them to appear before it within 72 hours on August 6. Lawmakers warned that failure to comply could lead to further legislative action.