NEITI audit reports: Senate gives Seplat, Network E&P, 2 others 48-hour ultimatum

•Ningi warns agencies, firms against disrespecting NASS

By Haruna Salami

The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday ordered four oil companies, including Seplat Energy Plc and Network E&P Nigeria Limited, to appear before it within 48 hours over queries raised in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
The other companies affected by the directive are All Grace Energy Limited and Aradel Energy Limited.
The committee warned that failure by the Managing Directors of the affected companies to appear within the stipulated period could lead to the invocation of the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.
The directive followed a broader warning by Senator Abdul Ningi, who stressed that the National Assembly was not an appendage of the Executive and that government agencies and corporate organisations were constitutionally bound to respect its oversight powers.
Ningi, representing Bauchi Central and a member of the committee, spoke while lawmakers were questioning representatives of Seplat Energy over queries arising from the NEITI audit reports.
The Managing Director of the company was absent from the proceedings, with representatives attributing his absence to an “unavoidable” engagement elsewhere.
Ningi, however, expressed concern over what he described as the growing practice of chief executives and some organisations failing to honour invitations from legislative committees, warning that such conduct could undermine democratic accountability.
“It is very important for all of us to understand the role of this body.
“The National Assembly, as an institution, has a constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight over the Executive, which is headed by the President and Commander-in-Chief.
“I want this to be placed on record: this Parliament is not an appendage of the Executive,” he said.
The senator maintained that the authority of the legislature was derived directly from the Constitution and could not be subordinated to the Executive or any government agency.
“If you look at the Constitution, you will understand how important the legislature is.
“The Constitution has vested this institution with oversight powers, not only over government agencies but, in certain circumstances, over the Executive itself,” he stated.
Ningi’s position became more pronounced following a reported letter from Network E&P Nigeria Limited informing the committee that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was the regulatory body to which the company was accountable.
He described the position as disturbing and provocative, insisting that the fact that an oil company was subject to regulatory supervision by NUPRC did not exempt it from parliamentary scrutiny.
Ningi cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, saying the provisions empowered the National Assembly to invite individuals, companies, agencies and other entities to provide explanations on matters falling within its oversight jurisdiction.