By The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has condemned what it described as a growing disregard for the constitutional authority of the National Assembly of Nigeria by heads of government agencies who fail to honour invitations from legislative committees carrying out oversight functions.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Tola Oresanwo, Director of Administration and Programmes, on behalf of CACOL Chairman Debo Adeniran, the organisation said legislative oversight remains a fundamental pillar of democratic governance.
“Legislative oversight is a cornerstone of democratic governance. The powers of the legislature to investigate the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are clearly provided for under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Chairman said.
CACOL warned that when public officials deliberately ignore summons or invitations from parliament, it undermines transparency, weakens accountability mechanisms and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.
The group cited recent reports involving a standoff between the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the operations and funding sources of Development Finance Institutions and the Bank of Industry after the bank allegedly failed to honour an invitation to appear before the committee.
According to CACOL, such actions create the impression that some public officials believe they are above the law and beyond legislative scrutiny.
The organisation also referenced concerns raised by lawmakers over the alleged refusal of the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, to honour invitations from the Senate Committee on Finance, a development that reportedly prompted calls within the Senate for his removal.
Similarly, the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Engineering was said to have stepped down consideration of the 2026 budget of the National Centre for Technology Management after its Director-General, Olushola Odusanya, failed to appear before the committee to defend the agency’s proposal.
Describing the incidents as part of a troubling pattern, CACOL said the actions reflect a growing culture of institutional arrogance and disregard for democratic accountability among some public officials.
The organisation urged the leadership of the National Assembly to take decisive steps to enforce its constitutional powers, including compelling the attendance of officials who fail to appear before legislative committees.
CACOL also called on the Presidency and supervising ministries to ensure that heads of agencies under their supervision fully cooperate with legislative oversight processes, stressing that respect for the rule of law and institutional checks and balances is essential for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system.
The group reiterated that effective legislative oversight is not a political exercise but a constitutional responsibility aimed at promoting transparency, preventing corruption and ensuring that public institutions serve the interests of Nigerians.
