The Nigerian Senate has expressed grave concern following the Auditor-General’s recent report, which revealed a significant misappropriation of N105.6 billion across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The Senate has vowed to take stringent actions against any erring agencies, underscoring the critical need for transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to legislative guidelines.
At a legislative oversight workshop held in Abuja, Senator Garba Maidoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, strongly condemned the financial irregularities exposed in the report, calling them an unacceptable breach of public trust.
“This scale of financial mismanagement is deeply alarming, especially during a time when every naira counts. We cannot turn a blind eye to such a massive diversion of public funds,” Senator Maidoki stated. “We will ensure that any MDA found guilty of ignoring the findings will face severe sanctions.”
Among the most concerning revelations in the Auditor-General’s report were the N18.36 billion spent on contracts that were awarded without following the provisions of the Public Procurement Act. Senator Maidoki took this opportunity to call out the heads of MDAs for their failure to appear before the Senate when summoned to clarify financial discrepancies. He warned, “We will take decisive action against any MDA head who continues to disregard Senate directives or fails to account for their financial decisions.”
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, also echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that adherence to legislative resolutions is essential for Nigeria’s progress and for maintaining the integrity of public institutions. “Ensuring compliance with Senate resolutions is fundamental to achieving Nigeria’s long-term development objectives and restoring public confidence in governance,” Akpabio remarked.
The workshop, hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), featured discussions from various key stakeholders. Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General of NILDS, shed light on the systemic challenges that continue to undermine effective governance, including weak enforcement mechanisms, bureaucratic inertia, and a lack of political will. “These persistent issues erode public trust in the government and its institutions, making it harder to achieve meaningful development,” Professor Sulaiman warned.
In response to the findings, the Senate’s Committee on Public Accounts has already launched an investigation into the financial mismanagement uncovered by the Auditor-General. The Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, reinforced the importance of legislative compliance in restoring public trust. “For laws to be meaningful, they must be consistently enforced, and agencies must comply with all legislative directives without exception,” Ogunlana emphasized.
As the Senate steps up its oversight role, Senator Maidoki reassured the Nigerian public that the legislature is fully committed to holding MDAs accountable for any financial misconduct. This renewed focus on transparency reflects the Senate’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption, safeguard public resources, and ensure that government spending aligns with the country’s development goals.
This move marks a crucial step in restoring the integrity of public institutions and reinforcing the Senate’s role in fostering good governance. With firm sanctions on the horizon, the Senate aims to ensure that public funds are managed responsibly and that corruption is curbed, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
