Senate to sanction MDAs for non-compliance with financial regulations

• Begins investigation into N105.66b financial mismanagement

Senate has threatened to sanction any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) found ignoring financial compliance regulations highlighted in the Auditor General’s report.

The warning was delivered by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Garba Madoki, during a workshop on legislative oversight organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

Madoki expressed concern over the repeated absence of MDA heads at Senate summons and warned that the Senate would not tolerate further disregard for legislative resolutions.

“We will take strict action against any agency head, who disregards Senate directives,” he stated, emphasising that a swift response was expected on the Auditor General’s findings.

The Auditor General’s recent report disclosed extensive financial irregularities across various MDAs, revealing that N105.66 billion had been misused in contravention of financial regulations, with N18.36 billion in contracts awarded without adherence to the Public Procurement Act.

The AuGF had previously raised concerns over accountability, particularly given Nigeria’s constrained budget and revenue challenges. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented at the workshop by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, underscored the importance of legislative compliance for effective governance.

“Ensuring MDAs follow legislative resolutions is not just oversight; it is essential to achieving the aspirations of Nigerians and fulfilling our role as their representatives,” Akpabio noted. He added: “Our responsibility includes holding MDAs accountable to ensure public trust and progress on the national development agenda.”

Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, added that legislative compliance would reinforce public confidence in government institutions, paving the way for sustainable development. “Without compliance, our laws and regulations remain ineffective,” he stated.

Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, highlighted the challenges undermining MDA compliance, such as weak enforcement, bureaucratic delays, and insufficient political support. He cautioned that the obstacles could damage the public’s trust in government accountability.

As the Senate Committee on Public Accounts examines the Auditor General’s findings, Madoki affirmed that the Senate would pursue sanctions as needed, reinforcing its commitment to uphold accountability within Nigeria’s public institutions.