The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating agricultural subsidies, intervention funds, aid, and grant programs from 2015 to 2025 has decried the persistent disregard for parliamentary invitations by government agencies and financial institutions.
At an investigative hearing held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, the committee expressed strong displeasure over the continued failure of several invited institutions to honor its summons, warning that it would no longer tolerate the practice.
The committee, therefore, directed NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and the National Bureau of Statistics to appear without fail, cautioning that further non-compliance would compel it to invoke relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to ensure their attendance.
The chairman of the committee, Jamo Aminu, issued the directive following repeated absences despite multiple invitations.
“It is disheartening that despite repeated invitations from the House of Representatives to government agencies, some have refused to appear or have outrightly ignored this investigative process.
“On this premise, I am constrained to move a motion to compel NIRSAL MFB, the Central Bank of Nigeria, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and the National Bureau of Statistics to appear before this committee,” he said.
The committee is probing the implementation of major agricultural intervention schemes, including the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme, the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, and the Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Fund.
While condemning the absence of some institutions, the panel also faulted the quality of submissions made by Jaiz Bank, Unity Bank, and Access Bank.
Although representatives of these banks attended the hearing, the committee noted that they failed to provide comprehensive and satisfactory information as required.
The committee then directed that the heads of all concerned institutions personally appear before it.
The affected banks were also mandated to submit detailed documentation strictly in line with the committee’s guidelines.
