The Nigerian Senate, through its Committee on Sports Development, has queried the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over their failure to honour an invitation to appear before it.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), expressed displeasure during the Committee’s meeting on Wednesday.
Senator Ningi said invitation letters were addressed separately to the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director-General, Bukola Olopade, both of the Commission, to avoid any ambiguity over who should appear before the panel.
He rejected the explanations forwarded by the Commission, describing them as unacceptable.
“The committee will not tolerate attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” Senator Ningi said.
According to him, the continued absence of key officials has prevented the committee from carrying out its legislative duties effectively.
“It’s becoming a practice that requires Senate disciplinary action against these agents of government,” he warned, noting that such conduct undermines accountability.
Committee members present, Ibrahim Mustapha Khalid, Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, Peter Jiya, Diket Plank, Kelvin Chukwu, Tony Nwoye and others unanimously backed the chairman and insisted that the commission and the NFF’s leadership must appear to explain issues surrounding its finances and operations.
The Committee directed the NSC to submit evidence of approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
It also demanded details of budget releases for the same period and records of funds released to all sporting federations, including basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey.
The panel further asked the Sports Commission to present evidence of federal government statutory subventions to the various federations.
In addition, Senator Ningi directed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting comprehensive records of all releases made to the NSC from 2023 to date for verification purposes.
The committee also requested from NFF detailed appropriations and releases for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, and the full details of the expenditure of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON.
The chairman said a new date for officials of the commission as well as the country’s football authority to appear before the committee would be communicated to them.
Addressing National Assembly correspondents after the meeting, Senator Ningi said their attitudes were not acceptable to the committee.
He said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives the National Assembly the power to oversee any ministry, department and agency of the country, in which NSC and NFF are included.
