Some of the agencies and MDAs affected are the Police Affairs, Independent National Electoral Commission, Army, National Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency (NSA); Civil Defence Corps, North East Development Commission and the Nigerian Air Force, State House, Presidential Fleet.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday threatened to withhold the 2023 Capital Budget of 100 Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) until they answer the queries raised against them by the Auditor-General for the Federation.
Some of the agencies and MDAs affected are the Police Affairs, Independent National Electoral Commission, Army, National Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency (NSA); Civil Defence Corps, North East Development Commission and the Nigerian Air Force, State House, Presidential Fleet.
Others are; the National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Defence, Civil Defence, Ministries of Works and Housing, Aviation, Transportation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministries of Interior, Mines and Solid Mineral Development, Information, Communication, Petroleum, Police Affairs, Sports, Works and Housing, and Women Affairs, and among others.
They had been mandated to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Account within one week and failure to do so would lead to their various budget proposal cut.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, gave the threat on the floor of the Senate while ruling on a point of order raised by the Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
Urhoghide, who came under a point of order, had drawn the attention of his colleagues to the flagrant disregard of heads of federal MDAs to Senate invitations to answer queries raised against them by the Auditor-General for the Federation.
He lamented that the agencies’ heads, who were public officers, were disrespecting the Senate despite the fact that Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution gives the red chamber power to summon them.
Urhoghide said, “The agencies that have vehemently refused to appear before our committee, this list of agencies and the amount that is against their name are staggering.
“I crave your indulgence that we invite through your order either by way of warrant of arrest or anything so that these agencies can come and we can complete our report and submit to this Senate. Coming under order 42, 95 which is clearly explain the mandate of the committee of public account of the Senate.”
In upholding Urhoghide’s, point of order, the Senate President, insisted that the public officers who utilised funds appropriated to their MDAs must give account.
Lawan said “Your point of order are sustained fully and completely, totally sustained. You are right on the dot to bring to the plenary your grievances. Secondly, I once served as Chairman of the Public Account Committee for eight years.
“I am taking the opportunity here to advise that in the next one week if the name of any agency is here, that agency should reach the Committee on Public Account of the Senate to sort out when the agency would appear before the committee.
“If there is no communication whatsoever and no cogent and verifiable reason are given, we will slash the budget of the agencies.”