Minister Warns National Assembly Against "Frivolous" Summons to Oil Companies

Strategic Insights -

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has cautioned the National Assembly against issuing frequent and "frivolous" summons to International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), warning that such practices are disruptive to the oil and gas industry. Lokpobiri, a former senator, issued the warning while declaring the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week open on Tuesday in Abuja. He expressed concern over the numerous and often unnecessary invitations by lawmakers, which he believes hinder service delivery to citizens.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has warned the National Assembly against frequent and "frivolous" summons to International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
  • Lokpobiri, a former senator, expressed concern over numerous and often unnecessary invitations by lawmakers, which he believes disrupt the oil and gas industry.
  • Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, committees in both chambers have summoned dozens of government agencies over issues like corruption and mismanagement.
  • Critics argue that many of these probes are politically motivated or aimed at extortion, rather than accountability.
  • A PREMIUM TIMES investigation in August 2023 exposed corruption by a House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating job racketeering in federal agencies.
  • Despite the creation of several ad hoc committees, none of the probes conducted since the start of the current National Assembly has yielded a completed report or led to sanctions against implicated individuals or agencies.
  • Lokpobiri's comments echo concerns raised by President Bola Tinubu in March 2024, who appealed to lawmakers to exercise discretion in summoning heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
  • The Nigerian Constitution empowers the National Assembly to summon any public official or authority for oversight purposes, with Sections 88 and 89 mandating the National Assembly to conduct oversight functions over Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and granting them the power to summon individuals and request documents for investigations.

Statistics:

  • Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, committees in both chambers have summoned dozens of government agencies over issues ranging from corruption and mismanagement to insecurity and procurement irregularities.
  • A PREMIUM TIMES investigation in August 2023 exposed corruption by a House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating job racketeering in federal agencies.
  • NNPC Ltd's management said that being summoned by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts over the alleged missing N210 trillion could damage public trust in government institutions.

Sources:

  • "Minister warns National Assembly against 'frivolous' summons to oil companies" by Premium Times, 2025 (exact date not specified)
  • "Tinubu appeals to lawmakers to exercise discretion in summoning MDAs" by Premium Times, March 2024
  • "Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended), Sections 88 and 89"
  • "NNPC Ltd faces another round of Senate summons over N210 trillion" by Premium Times, 2023 (exact date not specified)
  • "PREMIUM TIMES investigation exposes corruption by House of Representatives committee" by Premium Times, August 2023