The National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday, after their holiday recess, to finalize the 2025 budget and expedite the passage of critical tax reform bills. In a notable move, the Senate issued a stern ultimatum to several top government agencies, warning that failure to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) regarding audit queries will result in arrest warrants and possible removal from office.
After the first sitting of 2025 on January 14, the two chambers adjourned until January 28 to allow committees to finalize their work on the 2025 Appropriation Bill. However, the resumption was postponed to February 4 to give committees more time to complete engagements with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the budget.
At a tense briefing yesterday, SPAC Chairman, Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West), expressed outrage over the continued defiance by key agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), among others.
According to Wadada, some agencies have ignored multiple invitations and avoided responding to audit queries raised by the Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF), with FIRS alone disregarding eight official requests to appear.
“If President Bola Tinubu can make time to present the budget despite his busy schedule, no appointee is too big to be held accountable,” Wadada asserted. He warned that the Senate would no longer tolerate such disregard, stating, “The next invitation they ignore will trigger immediate action—arrest warrants will be issued, and we will urge President Tinubu to remove them from office.”
In addition to potential legal actions, the Senate is planning to expose financial mismanagement by these agencies by publishing their audit queries in major national newspapers. “If these officials think they can evade accountability, we will take their records to the public. Nigerians deserve to know how their resources are being managed,” Wadada added.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured that the 2025 budget would be transmitted to President Tinubu promptly, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to ensuring a smooth budgetary process. During the plenary, Akpabio praised senators for their thorough scrutiny of the budget, noting that their efforts would result in a practical financial plan for the country. He also commended lawmakers for extending the capital provisions of the 2024 budget until June 2025 to prevent disruptions in government operations.
Akpabio also announced changes to the leadership of several Senate standing committees. Some senators were reassigned to new committees, while others were appointed to head newly established committees aimed at promoting regional development.
The reshuffle included the appointment of Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) as chairman of the Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), replacing Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), who was moved to chair the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations. Other new committee leaders include Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) as chairman of the Committee on National Identity and National Population, and Garba Maidoki (APC, Kebbi South) as chairman of the Committee on Sports.
In response to the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Hussaini Babanjida (APC, Jigawa Northwest) will chair the oversight committee, with Mohammed Dandutse (APC, Katsina South) as vice chairman. Similarly, the newly formed Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) will be headed by Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), with Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) as vice chairman. The North Central Development Commission (NVDC) will be overseen by Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-west).
The reshuffle is seen as a response to concerns about the performance of some committees, particularly regarding their oversight responsibilities. Last December, Akpabio had expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of some MDAs to honor invitations from the National Assembly and had warned that underperforming committee chairmen could face removal.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives postponed plenary in honor of a deceased colleague, Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, presiding over a brief session, announced the adjournment as a mark of respect for the late lawmaker. Onanuga, who served as Deputy Chief Whip of the House and represented Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State, passed away on January 15. She was also the chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, where she advocated for women’s empowerment and social welfare.
The House held a one-minute silence in her honor, and her seat was draped in white cloth as a tribute to her memory.
