Akpabio Threatens To Replace Leadership Of Underperforming Senate Committees

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned that chairpersons of standing committees in the upper chamber who fail to perform their duties effectively will be replaced.

Akpabio made the statement during plenary on Tuesday while addressing complaints raised by Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, regarding the failure of the Senate Committee on Finance to conduct its oversight on revenue-generating agencies.

“If for any reason some committees are finding it too difficult to oversee their agencies, we will change the composition of the committees so that those who have the capacity and the capabilities can take over and do the job for the benefit of democracy in this country,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President directed committee chairpersons to submit reports on their oversight activities by January 2025.

“I would like a report from almost all the committees to be submitted by January 31st of the activities so far so that we will know where they have difficulties,” he said.

Akpabio also expressed frustration with the disregard shown by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for National Assembly invitations.

“The powers are there, and the constitution backs us. I do not see where any MDAs or any agency will refuse to comply with the invitation or demands from any committee of the senate or the national assembly as a whole,” he said.

“Where you overlook it as a committee, that is where they get away with it, and then it now becomes a norm. So, please let us take it seriously.”

Aliyu Wadada, the senator representing Nasarawa West, added his concerns as chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts. He revealed that his committee had repeatedly summoned the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) over petroleum tax remittances but had not received satisfactory responses.

“The committee had written both NNPC and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The Federal Inland Revenue Service responded with documents that have been tipexed and handwritten and acclaimed to be from JP Morgan,” Wadada said.

“This is extremely unacceptable, and all efforts for the need to be done have not been achieved.”

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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