Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Allwell Onyesoh, has condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for repeatedly failing to honour invitations from the National Assembly, describing the action as a violation of the Senate’s constitutional oversight role.
Speaking after a committee meeting investigating crude oil theft and proposed amendments to Nigeria’s petroleum laws, the Rivers East lawmaker accused the NNPCL leadership of undermining transparency and accountability. He dismissed the corporation’s repeated claims of official travel as an excuse for failing to appear before lawmakers.
Onyesoh also rejected suggestions that the Presidency was behind the corporation’s conduct, insisting that President Bola Tinubu respects the National Assembly and would not direct any agency to ignore legislative invitations.
He pledged to raise the matter with Senate leadership while also calling for greater transparency and equitable treatment of oil-producing communities, particularly in the Niger Delta.
