Reps panel warns agencies against ignoring parliamentary invitations

An ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has warned government agencies against ignoring invitations from the National Assembly, saying it will invoke constitutional powers to compel compliance if necessary.

The warning was issued on Friday in Abuja by the Committee to Investigate and Appraise the Performance and Benefits Accruing to the Federal Government from All Concessionaire-Operated Ports and Related Shipping Activities from 2006 to 2025.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly complex, the committee’s chairman, Kolawole Akinlayo, said several government agencies had repeatedly failed to honour invitations to appear before the panel.

Agencies accused of ignoring invitations

According to Akinlayo, the agencies that have yet to appear before the committee include the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Private sector organisations invited by the committee include Intels Nigeria Limited, Nigeria LNG Limited, and Julius Berger Plc.

Akinlayo said the committee had exercised restraint despite the continued absence of some agencies for more than a month after the investigation began.

He warned that the panel would no longer tolerate what he described as disrespect toward parliament and could resort to stronger constitutional measures.

Committee threatens legal action

The lawmaker said the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to compel individuals and institutions to cooperate with legislative investigations.

He cited Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the legislature to issue summons, warrants, and fines when its directives are ignored.

Akinlayo added that the committee could also request that the Inspector-General of police arrest the head of any agency that refuses to appear before it.

The committee was established to examine concession agreements signed between 2006 and 2025 covering Nigeria’s air and sea port terminals, as well as related shipping activities.

Its mandate includes reviewing revenue flows, remittances, and financial benefits accruing to the federal government, assessing compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations, and evaluating operational efficiency and service quality among concessionaires.

According to the chairman, the investigation will also identify policy gaps and weaknesses within the concession framework and recommend reforms to improve future concession agreements.

He emphasised that the panel’s objective is not to target individuals or organisations but to ensure transparency and accountability in agreements involving public assets.

Akinlayo said Nigerians deserve to know whether the concession arrangements have delivered value for money, strengthened national competitiveness, and contributed meaningfully to economic growth, employment, and government revenue.

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