A scheduled Senate investigation into the 2021-2023 NEITI oil and gas audit reports faced a delay on Monday after several primary agencies failed to attend the public hearing. The leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) were absent from the session led by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo. The Senate Public Accounts Committee had set aside three weeks to review these specific audit findings.
Displeased by the lack of attendance, the committee ordered these agencies to appear by Thursday, August 6, 2026. Senator Dankwabo warned that ignoring the new date would result in penalties mandated by the 1999 Constitution and Senate rules. Committee member Senator Babangida Hussaini argued that refusing to address valid audit queries undermines the National Assembly and disregards the interests of the public. Similarly, Senator Patrick Ndubueze expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the agencies and suggested that further leniency is unwarranted.
Despite these absences, the committee intends to continue its work, shifting focus to hearings involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
