The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to appear before it and respond to outstanding audit queries or risk sanctions.
The directive was issued on Tuesday during the committee’s hearing at the National Assembly, following the failure of the three agencies to honour invitations extended to them by the panel.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo expressed displeasure over the agencies’ absence, describing it as a serious affront to the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities.
During the proceedings, the committee secretary informed members that a correspondence had been received from the Bank of Agriculture, signed by its legal adviser.
In the letter, the bank stated that it had appeared before the committee on several occasions between February 2023 and November 2024 and that issues raised during those engagements had been resolved with the committee and relevant government authorities.
The bank further requested details of any unresolved matters and sought a minimum of two weeks to enable its management to assemble the necessary documents.
However, the committee rejected the request, insisting that agencies could not dictate timelines for legislative oversight proceedings.
Dankwambo faulted the correspondence, noting that it was signed by an official below the rank of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
He maintained that all communications relating to committee invitations must be personally signed and transmitted by agency chief executives.
The committee chairman also criticised the bank for failing to present its Managing Director before the panel despite being invited to explain outstanding audit issues.
Following deliberations, committee members unanimously resolved that the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodele Sotinrin, must personally appear before the panel within one week.
The lawmakers stressed that previous audit concerns involving the bank remained unresolved, contrary to claims contained in the correspondence.
They further warned that future communications signed by subordinate officers rather than chief executives would no longer be entertained by the committee.
The absence of the Chief Executive Officers of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Abubakar Minjibir, and the Rural Electrification Agency, Abubakar Aliyu, was also described as unacceptable.
The committee consequently directed that both organisations be given a final one-week opportunity to appear before the panel and address pending audit observations.
Several lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as a growing trend of government agencies disregarding legislative summons, warning that such conduct undermines accountability and transparency in public administration.
They emphasised that audit queries are serious accountability issues arising from constitutionally recognised processes and should not be treated with indifference by public institutions.
The committee warned that agencies that fail to honour the final invitation would face sanctions in line with the powers vested in it by law.
Dankwambo said that strongly worded letters would be issued immediately to the defaulting agencies, detailing unresolved audit issues requiring urgent attention.
According to him, the agencies must appear before the committee within one week or face the consequences of failing to cooperate with legislative oversight responsibilities.
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