NNPCL, FIRS, 13 Others Frustrating National Assembly, Tinubu’s Govt – Senate Panel (Full List)

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has criticized the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Police Force, and 12 other agencies for allegedly obstructing the efforts of the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in improving the country.

During a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (SDP, Nasarawa West), the chairman of the committee, expressed frustration over the refusal of these agencies to respond to queries related to the 2019 audit report.

The committee has been reviewing the report since October 2023, but progress has been hampered by the non-compliance of several key government agencies.

Senator Wadada accused the heads of these agencies of consistently ignoring the committee’s requests for information, which he said undermines the National Assembly’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government operations.

The committee chairman warned that any agency that continues to ignore the committee’s invitations will be reported to the Senate Committee of the Whole during plenary sessions for appropriate action.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts is responsible for examining the financial records of government agencies to ensure proper use of public funds.

The committee’s findings are crucial for holding government bodies accountable and preventing financial misconduct.

The lawmaker listed other agencies frustrating the Senate and Tinubu’s agenda for Nigeria to include the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (former DPR) and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment.

Others are the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited among others.

He said, “The committee is not in doubt of the commitment of the present administration under the stewardship of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria better. But with the attitude of the aforementioned chief executives, that will not be achievable unless and until we all do the needful.

“The committee is very displeased with the attitude of foot dragging by agencies that are by law, expected to respond to parliamentary invitations and account for their actions.”