From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Sports Development, headed by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), has Wednesday, fumed against the continuous absence an failure of officials of National Sports Commission (NSC) to honour its invitation.
Expressing his disappointment, Senator Ningi said invitation letters were addressed separately to the Chairman of the Commission and Director-General to come and testify before the Senate on the activities of the commission, but despite the separate letters to avoid any ambiguity over who should appear before the committee, met a deaf ear.
He however, rejected the explanations forwarded by the commission to the committee, describing them as unacceptable. Warned them that the committee would not tolerate any further attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight and responsibilities.
Ningi added that the continued absence of key officials had prevented the committee from carrying out its legislative duties effectively, adding that such conduct undermined accountability.
Related News
“It’s becoming a practice that requires the Senate’s disciplinary action against these agents of the government,” he said.
His position was supported by the committee members, insisting that the commission’s leadership must appear before the committee to explain issues surrounding its finances and operations.
It therefore, directed the commission to submit evidence of the approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 respectively.
It also requested that the 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 must be submitted on their next invitation date.
The lawmakers also directed the commission to present evidence of the Federal Government’s statutory subvention to the various federations.
The Senate Sports Committee Chairman, equally 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.
The committee urged them to appear on the next date to be communicated to them unfailingly.
