Jane Salihu
The Senate Committee on Sports Development has intensified its oversight of the National Sports Commission (NSC), demanding comprehensive financial records spanning four years after the agency’s leadership failed to appear before lawmakers for a scheduled interface.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), described the absence of the Commission’s Chairman and Director-General as a serious disregard for the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight function.
Expressing dissatisfaction during Wednesday’s meeting, Ningi said separate invitations had been sent to both officials to eliminate any uncertainty over who was expected to attend, dismissing the explanations offered by the commission as unacceptable.
He warned that repeated failure by heads of government agencies to honour Senate invitations could warrant disciplinary measures, saying such conduct undermines transparency and accountability in public institutions.
The committee unanimously backed the chairman’s position and resolved that the commission’s leadership must personally appear before it to account for the agency’s finances and operations.
As part of its investigation, the committee directed the National Sports Commission to submit approved budget documents for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, alongside details of actual budget releases within the same period.
Lawmakers also requested records of funds disbursed to all national sporting federations, including football, basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey, as well as evidence of statutory federal government subventions to the federations.
To independently verify the commission’s financial records, the committee instructed its clerk to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting details of all funds released to the National Sports Commission from 2023 to date.
Senator Ningi said the commission would be informed of a fresh date to appear before the committee, insisting that its leadership must account for the management of public funds allocated to sports development in the country.
