Senate panel threatens sanctions as BOA, REA, NSPMC skip public accounts hearing

Senate panel threatens sanctions as BOA, REA, NSPMC skip public accounts hearing

The senate committee on public accounts has threatened sanctions against the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for failing to appear before it over outstanding audit queries.

The committee, chaired by Ibrahim Dankwambo, issued the warning on Tuesday after the agencies refused to show up for a scheduled hearing.

At the session, the committee secretary informed lawmakers that the BOA had written to the panel through its legal adviser.

In the letter, the bank said it had appeared before the committee on several occasions 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 also requested details of outstanding matters and sought an additional two weeks to enable its management to compile relevant documents.

However, Dankwambo, a former accountant-general of the federation, rejected the request.

The committee chairman faulted the correspondence because it was not signed by the managing director and chief executive officer of the bank.

He said all official communications relating to legislative invitations must be personally signed by the chief executives of affected agencies.

Dankwambo also criticised the BOA for repeatedly failing to present its managing director before the committee to address unresolved audit issues.

The committee consequently rejected the request for a two-week extension, adding that agencies cannot determine timelines for legislative oversight processes.

Members unanimously resolved that the managing director of the BOA must personally appear before the committee within one week.

The committee also maintained that previous audit concerns involving the bank remained unresolved, contrary to claims contained in its letter.

Lawmakers warned that future correspondence signed by subordinate officials rather than chief executives would no longer be accepted.

The committee described the absence of the NSPMC and the REA as unacceptable and directed both agencies to appear before it within one week.

The committee expressed concern over what they described as a growing disregard for legislative summons by government agencies.

According to them, audit queries are serious accountability matters that must be treated with urgency and not ignored by public institutions.

The committee stated that it is acting within its constitutional mandate and based on audit reports submitted through established oversight procedures.

Lawmakers warned that any agency that fails to honour the final invitation would face sanctions in line with the senate’s constitutional powers.

Dankwambo said formal letters would be issued immediately to the affected agencies detailing unresolved issues requiring urgent attention.

He reiterated that the agencies must appear before the committee within one week or risk penalties for non-compliance with legislative oversight requirements.