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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing agricultural subsidies, intervention funds, aids and grants between 2015 and 2025 has warned that it will compel the appearance of defaulting government agencies and financial institutions over their failure to honour parliamentary invitations.

At an investigative hearing held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, the committee expressed frustration over the continued absence of key institutions and directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics to appear without fail.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Jamo Aminu, issued the warning after several invited bodies once again failed to attend despite repeated notices, as he warned that the committee will no longer tolerate what it described as disregard for the authority of the legislature.

“It is disheartening that despite repeated invitations from the House of Representatives to government agencies, including agencies linked to the United Nations system, 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,”Aminu said.

Following the resolution, the panel agreed to activate all constitutional mechanisms available to force the affected agencies and banks to appear and submit the required documents.

The committee is investigating trillions of naira spent on agricultural intervention programmes implemented by the Federal Government and the CBN from 2015 to September 2025, based on a House resolution passed on July 23, 2025.

The probe covers major schemes such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the Agribusiness and Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme, the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, the Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Fund and other intervention windows.

While lamenting the non-appearance of some institutions, the committee also criticised the quality of submissions made by Jaiz Bank, Unity Bank, Sterling Bank and Access Bank. Although representatives of the banks attended the hearing, the documents submitted were described as incomplete and insufficient.

As a result, the committee directed that the chief executives or appropriate heads of all concerned institutions must appear in person and gave the affected banks one week to submit comprehensive documentation strictly in line with the committee’s guidelines.

“This committee will not accept half-truths, cosmetic compliance or administrative evasions,” Aminu warned, adding that any attempt to mislead the panel or submit falsified records would attract sanctions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

In his opening remarks, the chairman maintained that the investigation was not targeted at any institution but was part of the House’s constitutional responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in public spending on agriculture.

“Our focus is not merely on how much was released, but how the funds were applied, who benefited, what was achieved, and what value accrued to the Nigerian people,” he said.

He further disclosed that the committee would conduct forensic reviews and on-site inspections of ministries, agencies, banks and project locations to verify submissions and confirm the physical existence and impact of funded projects.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that during the inauguration of the committee last week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Rep. Sunday Umeha, pledged the full support of the House to the probe, warning that no institution would be shielded from scrutiny.

“There can be no national security without food security,” the Speaker declared, noting that despite massive agricultural spending over the past decade, food prices remain high and food insecurity persists.

“It is unacceptable that trillions of naira were committed to agriculture with little impact on food security, rural livelihoods and import dependence,” he said.

The Speaker further warned that any Ministry, Department or Agency, as well as any Participating Financial Institution, that fails to honour invitations, withholds information or provides false records would face summons, contempt proceedings or warrants in line with constitutional provisions and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

“No institution is above the law. No agency is immune from oversight,” he stated.