Kehinde Fajobi
The Senate has pledged to impose parliamentary sanctions on heads of federal agencies implicated in financial irregularities in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s (AuGF) report.
Senator Garba Madoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, issued the warning on Monday during a workshop in Abuja, decrying the frequent disregard for Senate summons by ministry, department, and agency (MDA) leaders.
“We are going to be very strict on the report of the Auditor-General for the Federation. Measures will be taken against everyone who has refused to comply with Senate resolutions on this matter,” Madoki said.
He emphasised that further non-compliance would attract decisive actions, stressing, “Where compliance is not done, I can guarantee you that actions will be taken against whoever is infringing on those reports.”
The AuGF’s recent annual report highlighted irregularities amounting to ₦105.66 billion in public spending by MDAs, including ₦18.36 billion awarded for contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Act.
Despite prior recommendations to address these issues, weaknesses in financial regulations persist.
Madoki assured that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts is actively addressing the AuGF’s findings.
“We will take this job seriously. Where sanctions are required, we will not hesitate to sanction any MDA that violates the laws of this country, either inadvertently or willfully,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in a speech delivered by his deputy Jibrin Barau, reinforced the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to enforcing compliance with legislative resolutions.
“Legislative compliance is critical to the success of governance. Without it, the effectiveness of the National Assembly is undermined, public trust in government is eroded, and the development agenda is stalled,” Akpabio said.
Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, also underscored the significance of legislative compliance, describing it as the cornerstone of effective governance.
“Through robust legislative processes and compliance mechanisms, we can enhance citizen trust and confidence in our institutions, paving the way for sustainable development and social justice,” Ogunlana stated.