President Bola Tinubu has implored members of the National Assembly to exercise restraint in summoning heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies before parliamentary committees.
The President appealed while speaking at the breaking of the Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House.
Tinubu noted that while oversight is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials can disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens.
He, therefore, urged lawmakers to, in the exercise of their oversight functions, use discretion.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu Appeals To National Assembly: It Is Within Your Rights To Summon Heads Of MDAs, But Let Them Do Their Job’, the President appealed to the lawmakers to exercise their constitutional duties but allow the MDAs do their jobs also.
Tinubu said, ”I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the Speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the job. We are not saying that you are not influential.
“We are not saying you cannot do your oversight. But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the Governor of the Central Bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to you and the entire nation.
”If they are distracted or disturbed, maybe we will shift parliamentary sitting all through the night. We must find a way to accommodate one another. This is an appeal to you. See if you can accept representatives in some instances or even documentation.”
