The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the power sector reforms and expenditure from 2007 to 2024 has summoned the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Power, and the Office of the Auditor General for evading legislative oversight.

The committee’s Chairman, Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu, issued the summons during a continued investigative hearing yesterday in Abuja.

The chairman expressed frustration that several government institutions had repeatedly ignored official correspondence and failed to submit documents that are crucial to the probe.

Aliyu said the committee would no longer tolerate what he called “an emerging pattern of avoidance” by agencies that should provide clarity on decades of public spending in the electricity supply industry.

The committee chairman directed the agencies to appear no later than December 8, warning that failure to do so would compel the House to invoke its constitutional powers.

He said the committee had written to the agencies multiple times — starting from November 12, with follow-up letters on November 19, and subsequent reminders — yet received no acknowledgment or submission.

“We are getting increasingly frustrated,” he said. “We cannot pre-empt their reasons for refusing to appear, but these ministries and agencies are critical to the success of this investigation.”

Members of the committee earlier endorsed a motion urging the chairman to grant a short extension for the agencies to appear, while also expanding the mode of communication. The lawmakers suggested that invitations be published in the media to ensure that no MDA would claim ignorance of the summons.

Aliyu upheld the suggestions, announcing that the committee would publish its invitations and issue fresh letters as a final goodwill gesture before deploying legal instruments under sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to compel attendance and demand documents from any person or authority.

The committee chairman said the agencies’ evasions could undermine the probe, which aims to establish how trillions of naira invested in the power sector over 17 years have failed to translate into stable electricity for Nigerians.

“We cannot continue this way,” Aliyu said. “These agencies must come forward with their records. The Nigerian people deserve answers.” (The Nation)

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