Senate Issues Fresh 72-Hour Ultimatum to NNPCL, CBN, NDDC, Others Over Audit Queries

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has again issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and other government agencies over their failure to honour invitations to respond to audit queries.

The committee handed down the directive during its meeting on Monday after officials of the affected agencies failed to appear before lawmakers and did not provide any formal explanation for their absence.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the invitations were issued as part of the panel's oversight responsibilities and its efforts to address outstanding audit matters efficiently.

"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.

Committee members criticised the agencies' absence, describing it as a disregard for the authority of the National Assembly.

Senator Babangida Hussaini said the failure of the agencies to honour the invitations amounted to disrespect for the Senate and called for decisive action.

"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.

Supporting the call for sanctions, Senator Patrick Ndubueze argued that the agencies should face the consequences of ignoring the committee's invitation without any justification.

"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.

After deliberations, the committee resolved to give the affected agencies a final 72-hour deadline to appear before it on August 6, warning that failure to comply could trigger further legislative action.