Heads of NNPCL, FIRS, Police and 12 others agencies have been warned by the senate over refusal to respond to queries raised against them in the 2019 audit report
The Senate, through its Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has expressed strong disapproval of the incessant refusal several government agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Nigeria Police Force, to respond to audit queries.
The committee’s chairman, Sen. Ahmed Wadada (SDP Nasarawa West), voiced the senate’s frustration during a briefing with journalists on Tuesday.
According to Wadada, the committee has been examining the 2019 audit report since October 2023, with the intention of presenting its findings to senate plenary. However, he noted that despite repeated invitations, the heads of several agencies have deliberately chosen not to defend the queries raised against them in the report.
“Since heads of the affected agencies refused to respond to queries raised against them in the 2019 audit report after several opportunities were offered, the committee has resolved that any agency that refuses to honour invitations to defend its queries will have its queries sustained and reported to the senate plenary,” he declared.
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He emphasized that the lack of cooperation from these agencies is hindering the senate’s efforts to fulfil its constitutional and legislative duties, and is also detrimental to the goals of the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
“The attitude of these public agencies, in persistently refusing to respond to audit queries, is frustrating and detrimental to the aspirations and goals of President Bola Tinubu‘s government,” adding that the committee identified several other agencies that have similarly ignored parliamentary invitations, including the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (formerly DPR), and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment. Others include the FCT Internal Revenue Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited.
Aliyu further stated, “The committee is very displeased with the foot-dragging attitude of agencies who are, by law, expected to respond to parliamentary invitations and account for their actions.”
He warned that moving forward, any agency that fails to attend the committee’s hearings or submit a defense will have its audit queries sustained, based on the findings of the Auditor-General’s report.
The committee also plans to incorporate this new resolution into its rules of engagement to ensure better compliance from government agencies.
Despite these challenges, Sen. Wadada expressed confidence in the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to improving Nigeria, but cautioned that this can only be achieved if all stakeholders, including agency heads, fulfill their responsibilities.
