By Oladosu Adebola Oluwaseun
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Agricultural Subsidies, Intervention Funds, Aids and Grants Programmes from 2015 to 2025 has expressed strong displeasure over what it described as the persistent disregard for parliamentary invitations by key government agencies and financial institutions.
At an investigative hearing held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, the committee directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to appear unfailingly before it, warning that continued non-compliance would compel the House to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to enforce their appearance.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Jamo Aminu, issued the directive following the repeated failure of several invited institutions to honour invitations despite multiple notices.“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,” Aminu said.
Consequently, the committee resolved to activate all constitutional mechanisms available to compel the defaulting agencies and financial institutions to appear and submit the required documents.“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,” he added.The panel is probing trillions of naira expended on agricultural intervention programmes implemented by the Federal Government and the CBN between 2015 and September 2025, following a House resolution of July 23, 2025. The investigation covers major schemes, including the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS), the Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Fund (NESF), and other intervention windows.
While lamenting the absence of key institutions, the committee also faulted the quality of submissions by Jaiz Bank, Unity Bank, Sterling Bank and Access Bank. Although their representatives were present at the hearing, they failed to provide comprehensive documentation as required.
The committee subsequently directed that the appropriate heads of all concerned institutions must personally appear before it and gave the affected banks one week to submit detailed documentation strictly in line with the committee’s guidelines.“This committee will not accept half-truths, cosmetic compliance or administrative evasions,” Aminu warned, stressing that any misleading or falsified records would attract sanctions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In his opening remarks, the chairman emphasised that the investigation was not a witch-hunt but a constitutional duty aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and value for money in public agricultural spending.“ 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.Recall that during the inauguration of the committee last week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Hon. 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.
