The Nigerian Senate issued a scathing rebuke on Wednesday to the heads of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), warning that persistent lateness to budget defense sessions will no longer be tolerated.
The warning was delivered during the 2026 budget defense session for security agencies. While lawmakers praised the punctuality of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), they contrasted their discipline with the “habitual lateness” of several other agency heads.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) expressed deep displeasure at the growing trend of executive heads arriving late to critical oversight functions. He specifically singled out former lawmakers now heading executive agencies, labeling their conduct as “absolutely rubbish.”
“This is a budget period that must be given the required seriousness by all stakeholders. The perpetual latecomers are always fond of lying that they came late… because of presidential engagements. To us here, those are lies.” stated Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), echoed these sentiments, asserting that budget defenses are not “routine ceremonies” but constitutional mandates.
The Senate emphasized that punctuality is a prerequisite for:
Fiscal Discipline: Demonstrating readiness to manage public funds.
Constitutional Compliance: Respecting the legislature’s role in scrutinizing revenue and expenditure.
Public Service Delivery: Ensuring the 2026 Appropriation Bill is processed without unnecessary delays.
The Senate has signaled that institutional discipline will now be a priority alongside financial scrutiny. Moving forward, the upper chamber warned that failure to accord the legislature due respect undermines the transparency required for the 2026 fiscal year.
The Committee subsequently proceeded with the security agencies’ budget proposals, following the timely arrival of the intelligence chiefs.
