By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Senate has given the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and the Rural Electrification Agency a one-week ultimatum to appear before it and respond to outstanding audit queries.
The directive was issued on Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, following the agencies’ failure to appear before the panel during its hearing.
During the session, the committee secretary informed members that a letter had been received from the Bank of Agriculture, signed by its legal adviser.
In the correspondence, the bank stated that it had appeared before the committee several times 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, however, requested details of any unresolved matters and sought an additional two weeks to enable its management to collate relevant documents.
Reacting, Dankwambo faulted the letter, noting that it was signed by an official below the rank of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He insisted that all communications relating to committee invitations must be personally signed and transmitted by the heads of the agencies concerned.
He also criticised the bank for failing to present its Managing Director before the committee despite being invited to explain outstanding audit issues.
The committee rejected the request for a two-week extension, maintaining that agencies could not dictate timelines for legislative oversight proceedings.
Members unanimously resolved that the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture must personally appear before the committee within one week.
The lawmakers stressed that previous audit concerns involving the bank remained unresolved, contrary to claims contained in its letter.
They also warned that future correspondence signed by subordinate officials rather than chief executives would no longer be entertained.
The committee described the absence of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and the Rural Electrification Agency as unacceptable and directed that both organisations be given a final one-week opportunity to appear before the panel.
Several lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as a growing pattern of disregard for legislative summons by government agencies.
According to them, audit queries are serious accountability matters that require prompt responses and should not be treated with indifference by public institutions.
The committee emphasised that it was acting on reports submitted through constitutional processes and within its statutory mandate.
It further warned that agencies that fail to honour the invitations after the final notice would face sanctions in line with its constitutional powers.
Dankwambo said strong letters would be issued immediately to the defaulting agencies, outlining unresolved issues requiring their attention.
He added that the agencies must appear before the committee within one week or risk sanctions for failing to cooperate with legislative oversight responsibilities.
