ABUJA: The Senate on Monday rescinded its earlier resolution urging President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, from office, following his personal appearance and apology before lawmakers.
The decision was taken during the budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja after Magaji offered what lawmakers described as a remorseful and unreserved apology for failing to honour previous invitations.
The committee had earlier expressed strong displeasure over what it termed the registrar-general’s repeated failure to personally attend its sittings and respond promptly to official correspondence.
At a previous session, the panel had resolved to recommend to the Senate in plenary that the President be formally requested to remove him from office.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, said lawmakers observed a pattern of reluctance on the part of the CAC boss in responding to invitations, noting that he frequently delegated senior officials to represent him.
Musa stressed that the committee has a constitutional mandate to exercise oversight over all revenue-generating agencies of government, including government-owned enterprises, ministries, departments and agencies.
He added that shortly after the committee’s pronouncement recommending his removal, Magaji appeared before the panel within a short period, a development that initially raised further concerns.
In his response, Magaji apologized unreservedly, attributing the incident to a communication gap between staff of the commission and the National Assembly liaison unit.
He explained that he was in Lagos when the letter of invitation was received but immediately cut short his engagements and directed his staff to notify the committee that he was on his way, though he arrived late.
To forestall a recurrence, the registrar-general said a dedicated liaison office had been established to handle all matters relating to the National Assembly.
He assured lawmakers that such a lapse would not happen again, reiterating his respect for the committee and accepting full responsibility.
Several senators spoke in his defence during deliberations.
Senator Dicket Plang described the situation as unfortunate and said the registrar-general appeared genuinely remorseful and deserving of a second chance.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi urged forgiveness but cautioned that ignoring legislative summons must never become a norm.
Senator Ned Nwoko also vouched for Magaji’s disciplined disposition in public and private life, appealing to the committee to temper justice with compassion.
The motion to rescind the earlier call for his removal was moved by Senator Isa Jibrin and seconded by Senator Sani Daura, and was subsequently adopted.
Magaji was thereafter directed to reappear before the committee at a later date to defend the CAC’s 2024 and 2025 budget performance as well as its 2026 budget proposal.
