Senate gives CBN, NUPRC, NDDC, NEITI 72 Hours to appear over audit queries

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and other agencies that failed to honour invitations to a public hearing on audit queries.

The committee took the decision after the agencies failed to attend the opening session of a special legislative oversight hearing on Monday, delaying deliberations on NEITI’s oil and gas industry audit reports covering 2021, 2022 and 2023

The hearing was convened to review findings contained in the audit reports, including details of operations, revenues, remittances, payments and other financial obligations within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Lawmakers are also examining compliance with relevant laws, including the Constitution, the NEITI Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other regulations guiding the extractive industry.

More than 50 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), government-owned enterprises, regulators and oil and gas operators were invited to appear before the committee between August 3 and August 25. However, key agencies, including the CBN, NUPRC, NDDC and NEITI, were absent from Monday’s session without any formal explanation.

Committee Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the hearing was designed to address the growing backlog of unresolved audit matters and strengthen the National Assembly’s oversight functions.

He noted that invitations had been duly sent to all concerned agencies and public notices were published in at least three national newspapers, yet several invited institutions failed to attend despite the scheduled commencement of proceedings.

Several lawmakers described the absence of the agencies as a slight on the National Assembly and a failure of accountability.

Senator Babangida Hussaini, who represents Jigawa North-West, said public institutions should not disregard valid legislative invitations, particularly on issues involving the management of public funds.

He lamented that members of the committee had interrupted their recess and constituency activities to attend the hearing, only to be left waiting without any official communication from the invited agencies.

According to him, the continued failure of government agencies to respond to audit queries undermines public confidence and the integrity of the Senate.

Senator Patrick Ndubueze of Imo North argued that the defaulting agencies did not deserve another opportunity after failing to appear without notice. He urged the committee to invoke its constitutional powers against officials who ignored the summons, describing the development as unacceptable.

Similarly, Senator Nasiru Zangon-Daura, representing Katsina North, criticised the agencies for failing to send representatives or communicate reasons for their absence. He said such conduct reflected poorly on the commitment of government institutions to accountability.

Following deliberations, the committee adopted a motion directing all affected agencies to appear before it on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Announcing the resolution, Dankwambo said the committee had granted a final 72-hour window for the agencies to honour the invitation.

He warned that any agency that failed to appear on the new date could face sanctions in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders.

Before adjourning, the committee instructed its secretariat to formally notify all affected agencies of the decision and remind them of the possible consequences of another failure to attend.

The public hearing is scheduled to continue on Tuesday with appearances by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), alongside other invited institutions.