By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

The Senate Committee on Sports Development, chaired by Sen. Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the failure of officials of National Sports Commission to honour its invitation.

Ningi, while expressing displeasure during the committee’s meeting, said invitation letters were addressed separately to the Chairman of the Commission and the Director-General to avoid any ambiguity over who should appear before the committee.

He rejected the explanations forwarded by the commission, describing them as unacceptable.

The senator warned that the committee would not tolerate attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight responsibilities.

He said that the continued absence of key officials had prevented the committee from carrying out its legislative duties effectively, stating that such conduct undermined accountability.

“it’s becoming a practice that requires senate’s disciplinary action against these agents of government,” Ningi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee members unanimously supported the chairman’s position, insisting that the commission’s leadership must appear before the committee to explain issues surrounding its finances and operations.

The committee directed the commission to submit evidence of the approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

It also requested details of budget releases for the same period and records of funds released to all sporting federations, including football, basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey, among others.

The lawmakers also directed the commission to present evidence of the Federal Government’s statutory subvention to the various federations.

Ningi, however, directed the clerk of the committee to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting for comprehensive records of all releases made to the commission from 2023 till date for verification.

He, thereafter, announced that a new date for the officials of the commission to appear before the committee would be communicated to them. (NAN)

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