Senate sets new 72-hour ultimatum for NNPCL, CBN, and other parties to address auditing concerns

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The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a fresh 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other government agencies to appear before it over unresolved audit queries.

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The committee handed down the directive on Monday after officials of the invited agencies failed to appear before lawmakers and did not provide any formal explanation for their absence, Channels TV reported.

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Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the invitations formed part of the panel’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.

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“We wanted to reduce the volume of work to enhance our oversight. The letters and invitations were issued, but our guests have not arrived,” Dankwambo said.

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Expressing displeasure over the agencies’ absence, Senator Babangida Hussaini described the development as disrespectful to the National Assembly.

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“The committee has powers, and it is most disrespectful to the National Assembly for any agency to fail to appear to respond to audit queries. This committee needs to take drastic action. The Senate is being taken for granted, and that must stop forthwith,” he said.

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Also speaking, Senator Patrick Ndubueze called for sanctions against the defaulting agencies, saying they should not be given another opportunity after failing to honour the invitations without explanation.

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“The proper consequences should be laid down and carried out. They don’t deserve a second chance. If they can’t attend to this important arm of government after invitations were sent and no explanations were given, they don’t deserve another chance,” he said.

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Following deliberations, the committee resolved to issue what it described as a final 72-hour ultimatum, directing the affected agencies to appear before it on August 6.

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The lawmakers warned that failure to comply with the summons could attract further legislative action.

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