The Senate, through its Committee on Public Accounts, on Tuesday expressed strong disapproval of several federal agencies for their failure to address queries raised in the 2019 audit report. The agencies include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Police Force, and 12 other government bodies.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (SDP Nasarawa West), who conveyed the committee’s frustration during a press briefing on Tuesday, criticized the leadership of these agencies for not responding to repeated invitations and queries regarding the 2019 audit findings.
Senator Aliyu emphasized that any agency that continues to disregard invitations to address audit queries will see those queries sustained and reported to the Senate Plenary. He described the agencies’ behavior as counterproductive to the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The list of agencies under scrutiny also includes the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (formerly DPR), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, FCT Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, among others.
“The Committee began reviewing the Audit Report in October 2023 with the intention of presenting its findings to the Plenary,” Senator Aliyu said.
“However, several agencies have repeatedly failed to attend committee hearings and provide necessary responses to the audit queries.”
The Senator criticized these agencies for their evasive actions, which he said obstruct the Committee’s ability to fulfill its legislative duties effectively. He noted that the Committee will now sustain the queries and adopt the Auditor-General’s positions in the absence of agency responses.
Senator Aliyu also reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability and urged the affected agencies to comply with parliamentary invitations to improve their responses and engagements.
