(SINL NIGERIA) Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has cautioned the Nigerian Immigration Service to respect the National Assembly’s constitutional right to oversight and accountability.
During an oversight visit to the Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja, Oshiomhole emphasized that the National Assembly represents the people and has a duty to ensure government agencies are transparent and accountable.
He expressed disappointment with the Immigration Service’s lack of cooperation, suggesting that they might be hiding something.
Oshiomhole assured that the National Assembly will continue to perform its constitutional role, ensuring that government agencies are answerable to Nigerians.
The committee directed the Immigration Service to provide a nominal roll and budget performance report for 2024 during their budget defense.
In response, Comptroller General Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap pledged the Immigration Service’s cooperation with the National Assembly to ensure quality service delivery.
In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters, Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi thanked the committee for their visit and assured them of NSCDC’s continued cooperation.
Audi presented a comprehensive breakdown of NSCDC’s 2024 capital budget performance, highlighting the challenges posed by inadequate funding.
He reported that only 9% of the allocated budget (₦960,283,940) had been released as of October 2024, impacting the completion of essential capital projects.
He appealed to the National Assembly for increased budgetary allocation, citing the procurement of arms as a major challenge.
In response, Oshiomhole advised the NSCDC to prioritize projects with direct impact and ensure transparent recruitment processes. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on arms procurement.
