The House of Representatives has cautioned Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, to cease his oversight visits to government agencies, asserting that this role is the exclusive domain of the National Assembly.
Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House, emphasized that lawmakers are constitutionally empowered to conduct oversight through visits, investigations, and reviews of government agencies’ performances.
Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House, has reportedly visited several government agencies, raising concerns among lawmakers.
“What the Right Honourable Chief of Staff to Mr. President is doing is not in any way in conflict with our mandate as a Parliament,” Agbese initially said.
However, he later clarified that while routine checks by the executive are acceptable, these should not be classified as oversight, which is strictly the National Assembly’s prerogative.
Agbese underscored the constitutional provisions: “Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provide for the power of the National Assembly to investigate the performance of anyone or body charged with the responsibility of executing the laws enacted by the parliament.”
While Gbajabiamila’s visits to agencies like the National Agricultural Land Development Authority and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative were noted, Agbese warned that any further oversight visits would be seen as overstepping his authority.
He added, “Courtesy visits are in order, but they should not be seen as an oversight.”
Some lawmakers see these visits as encroaching on their oversight role, which often involves financial perks from government agencies.
Agbese’s warning aims to ensure that this constitutional duty remains in the hands of the legislative branch.
