The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating Nigeria's power sector reforms has issued summons to several key government agencies for evading legislative oversight and failing to provide crucial documents.
Agencies Fail to Respond to Multiple Invitations
Committee Chairman Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu expressed deep frustration during Thursday's investigative hearing, revealing that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Budget Office, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Finance Ministry, Power Ministry, and Office of the Auditor General had repeatedly ignored official correspondence.
The committee had sent multiple letters to these agencies starting from November 10, with follow-up communications on November 19 and subsequent reminders, yet received no acknowledgment or document submissions.
December 8 Deadline Issued
Aliyu directed all summoned agencies to appear before the committee no later than December 8, 2025, warning that failure to comply would force the House to invoke its constitutional powers.
"We are getting increasingly frustrated," Aliyu stated. "We cannot pre-empt their reasons for refusing to appear, but these ministries and agencies are critical to the success of this investigation."
Committee Adopts New Communication Strategy
Lawmakers on the committee endorsed a motion to expand communication methods, suggesting that invitations be published in national media to ensure no government agency can claim ignorance of the summons.
The chairman upheld these suggestions, announcing that the committee would publish invitations and issue fresh letters as a final goodwill gesture before deploying legal instruments under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution.
These constitutional provisions empower the National Assembly to compel attendance and demand documents from any person or authority in Nigeria.
17-Year Power Sector Investigation at Risk
The ongoing probe aims to establish how trillions of naira invested in Nigeria's power sector from 2007 to 2024 have failed to translate into stable electricity supply for citizens.
Aliyu emphasized that the continued evasion by critical agencies risks undermining the entire investigation. "We cannot continue this way," he declared. "These agencies must come forward with their records. The Nigerian people deserve answers."
The investigation covers power sector reforms and expenditure over a 17-year period, seeking to uncover why massive public investments have not yielded corresponding improvements in electricity supply across the country.
