The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday reprimanded heads of federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies for persistent late arrival at budget defence sessions, warning that the upper chamber would no longer tolerate what it described as a growing culture of disrespect for parliamentary oversight.

The rebuke came during the 2026 budget defence of security agencies before the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, where lawmakers contrasted the punctuality of security chiefs with the habitual lateness of several other agency heads.

The committee had convened to interface with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and other intelligence chiefs.

While commending the security heads for arriving ahead of the scheduled 11:00 a.m. commencement time, senators used the session to send a stern message to the chief executives of other government agencies who frequently turn up late for similar engagements.

Expressing his displeasure, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) said the trend must stop, stressing that the Senate would no longer condone laxity during a critical budget period.

He particularly criticised former serving senators and members of the National Assembly who now head executive agencies, accusing them of being among the worst offenders.

He said: “We are happy that the various heads of National Security and Intelligence agencies arrived for the budget defence session before 11: 00 am fixed for commencement of the interface.

“However, it is not so with many of the other heads of agencies, particularly those being led by former serving Senators or National Assembly members. This is absolutely rubbish because this is a budget period that must be given the required seriousness by all stakeholders.

“The perpetual latecomers are always fond of lying that they came late for committees’ assignments because of presidential engagement at the Villa, which to us here are lies.”

Kalu warned that failure to accord the legislature due respect undermines the spirit of accountability and transparency that underpins the budget process.

He noted that the National Assembly plays a constitutional role in scrutinising and approving appropriations and therefore deserves full cooperation from the executive arm.

Concurring with the cautionary remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), said the warning should serve as a wake-up call to erring agency heads.

Abdullahi stressed that budget defence sessions are not routine ceremonies but critical engagements where lawmakers examine revenue projections, expenditure frameworks and performance records before approving public funds.

The Senate has, In recent years, intensified oversight of MDAs, frequently raising concerns over delayed project execution, poor releases and weak accountability mechanisms.

Lawmakers have argued that punctuality and preparedness at budget sessions reflect an agency’s seriousness about fiscal discipline and public service delivery.

Wednesday’s development signals that, beyond funding concerns, the Senate is also keen on enforcing institutional discipline as it considers the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The committee later proceeded with deliberations on the security agencies’ budget proposals, amid assurances from lawmakers that punctuality and compliance would henceforth be treated as matters of legislative priority. (The PUNCH)

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