The Senate Committee on Public Accounts faced an unexpected delay on Monday as critical government entities missed a scheduled hearing regarding the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit reports for 2021 through 2023. Representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and NEITI itself failed to attend the session.
Led by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the committee had organized the three-week oversight initiative to address discrepancies in revenues, remittances, and operational standards within the nation’s extractive industry. Despite prior official invitations and public notices in major newspapers, the chamber remained empty of the expected officials.
Senator Dankwambo noted his frustration, emphasizing that the committee had followed all necessary protocols to ensure attendance. In response to the absenteeism, the committee has mandated the chief accounting officers of these organizations to report on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Members of the committee, including Senators Babangida Hussaini and Patrick Ndubueze, urged the use of constitutional authority to enforce attendance, citing that such absences disregard the legislative oversight process.
The committee maintains its mandate through Sections 88, 89, and 85(5) of the 1999 Constitution. While sanctions remain a possibility for continued defiance, the panel has opted to grant a final extension for compliance before moving forward with other scheduled sessions involving the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
