The Senate has threatened to invoke constitutional sanctions against the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) over their alleged failure to honour invitations from the National Assembly.
The warning came during an ongoing investigation into the administration of customs duty waivers, whose cumulative value has reportedly risen to ₦34 trillion.
The Senate Committee conducting the probe expressed concern over the continued absence of the agencies, describing their failure to appear and provide relevant documents as a breach of legislative oversight responsibilities.
Lawmakers stressed that all agencies benefiting from or involved in the implementation of customs duty waivers must account for their roles to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with existing laws.
The committee warned that if the affected agencies fail to appear at the next scheduled hearing, the Senate would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers to compel attendance and impose appropriate sanctions.
The lawmakers reiterated their commitment to uncovering the circumstances surrounding the ₦34 trillion customs duty waivers, emphasizing that the investigation is aimed at safeguarding public resources and strengthening accountability in government institutions.
