Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), has strongly criticised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its consistent failure to honour invitations to appear before the National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists after a Senate committee meeting, the Rivers East senator expressed frustration over the NNPCL’s absence, describing it as a hindrance to the Senate’s constitutional oversight function.
The committee is currently investigating crude oil theft and considering amendments to Nigeria’s petroleum laws aimed at strengthening the legal and regulatory framework of the oil and gas sector.
Senator Onyesoh walked out of the meeting in protest over the non-appearance of NNPCL officials. He emphasised that the Senate was simply performing its constitutional duty by demanding accountability.
“We are not contractors. We are simply asking questions. Give us facts. Give us records. We want to study them. That is our constitutional responsibility,” he said.
He dismissed the company’s frequent excuse of top officials being on foreign engagements, questioning how the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), his deputy, directors, and entire management could be unavailable simultaneously.
“They keep writing letters saying they are travelling to Congo, travelling here and there, just to dodge simple things. Was the GCEO appointed to keep travelling or to work? Is Nigeria’s problem outside the country or here in Nigeria?” he queried.
Onyesoh warned that the NNPCL’s repeated absence sends the wrong signal regarding its commitment to transparency and public accountability. He stressed that no government agency is above legislative scrutiny and that every public institution must respect the authority of the National Assembly.
The lawmaker rejected the notion that the NNPCL is accountable only to the Presidency, noting that all agencies established by law remain answerable to the legislature. He however absolved President Bola Tinubu of blame, stating that the President has consistently shown respect for the National Assembly.
“I know Mr. President. That is not the President I know. He will not tell any agency to ignore the National Assembly,” Onyesoh said.
He announced plans to formally engage the Senate leadership on the matter to reinforce legislative oversight and ensure greater institutional compliance.
Additionally, Senator Onyesoh called for increased transparency in the management of petroleum sector intervention programmes. He urged the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to publicly disclose beneficiaries of its scholarships and capacity-building initiatives, especially those from oil-producing communities.
Highlighting the challenges faced by host communities, particularly in Rivers State, he lamented the persistent underdevelopment in areas like Umuechem in Etche Local Government Area — one of Nigeria’s earliest oil-producing communities — despite their huge contributions to the nation’s oil wealth.
The senator pledged to continue pushing for accountability, transparency, and equitable development for oil-bearing communities, stressing that resource wealth must translate into improved living conditions for the people.
The Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) is continuing its work on proposed amendments to petroleum laws aimed at curbing crude oil theft, enhancing regulatory enforcement, improving transparency, and boosting crude oil production.