Akpabio threatens to replace committee chairmen over non-performance

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has threatened to remove any Chairman of Standing Committee in the Senate who fails to live up to expectations in terms of satisfactory performance .

Akpabio made the threat   on Tuesday during plenary when he responded to the concern of  Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Bauchi Central) on failure of Senate Committee on Finance  to carry out oversight on 92 revenue generating agencies.

He queried how heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government continued to disregard invitations to the National Assembly for questioning.

The Senate President said the Senate leadership will not hesitate to change the composition of its committees so that those who have capacity could take over.

“If for any reason some committees are finding it too difficult to oversight their agencies, we will change the composition of the committees so that those who have the capacity and the capabilities can take over and do the job for the benefits of democracy in this country”, he said 

Akpabio also directed all chairmen of standing committees in the Senate to submit reports about the oversight activities of their respective committees by January 31, 2025.

“I would like a report from almost all the committees to be submitted by January 31st of the activities so far so that we will know where they have difficulties,” he said.

He said the lawmakers have constitutional power to issue a warrant of arrest of any head of MDAs resisting invitation to the National Assembly. 

“The powers are there and the constitution backs us. I do not see where any MDAs or any agency will refuse to comply with the invitation or demands from any committee of the Senate or the National Assembly as a whole. 

“Where you overlook it as a committee, that is where they get away with it and then it now becomes a norm, so please let us take it seriously.”

There are over 70 standing committees at the Senate, each having chairmen and vice-chairmen with several members. 

The committees are created in accordance with the Standing Order of the Senate.