NIRSAL microfinance bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have been mandated to appear before the House committee investigating agricultural intervention funds
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Agricultural Subsidies, Intervention Funds, Aids and Grants Programmes from 2015 to 2025 has expressed strong displeasure over what it described as persistent disregard for parliamentary invitations by key government agencies and financial institutions.
At an investigative hearing held Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, the committee mandated the NIRSAL microfinance bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to appear unfailingly before it, warning that further non-compliance would attract compulsory summons.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Jamo Aminu, issued the directive after several institutions again failed to honour invitations, despite repeated notices.
“It is disheartening that despite repeated invitations from the House of Representatives reaching to government agencies, including agencies linked to the United Nations system, some of them have refused to appear or have outrightly ignored invitations to honour this investigative process,” Aminu said.
Consequently, the committee formally resolved to activate all relevant constitutional processes to compel the defaulting agencies and financial institutions to appear and submit required documents.
“On this premise, I am constrained to move this motion to compel NIRSAL MFB, the Central Bank of Nigeria, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics to appear before this committee,” he added.
The panel is investigating trillions of naira expended on agricultural intervention programmes implemented by the Federal Government and the CBN between 2015 and September 2025, following a House resolution of July 23, 2025.
The probe covers major schemes such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), AGSMEIS, AADS, NESF and other intervention windows.
While lamenting the absence of key institutions, the committee also faulted the quality of submissions made by representatives of Jaiz Bank, Unity Bank and Access Bank, who were present at the hearing but failed to provide comprehensive documentation.
The committee also demanded that the appropriate head of all these institutions are mandated to appear before it
The affected banks have now been given one week to submit detailed documentation strictly in line with the committee’s guidelines.
“This committee will not accept half-truths, cosmetic compliance or administrative evasions,” Aminu warned, stressing that misleading or falsified records would attract sanctions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In his opening remarks at the hearings, the chairman emphasised that the investigation was not a witch-hunt but a constitutional responsibility aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and value for money in public agricultural spending.
“Our focus is not merely on how much was released, but how funds were applied, who benefited, what was achieved, and what value accrued to the Nigerian people,” he said.
He added that the committee would conduct forensic reviews and on-site inspections of ministries, agencies, banks and project locations to validate claims and confirm the physical existence and impact of funded projects.
Speaking earlier at the commencement of the hearings, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Rep. Sunday Umeha threw full weight of the House behind the committee, warning that no institution would be shielded from scrutiny.
“There can be no national security without food security,” the speaker declared, noting that despite massive agricultural spending over the past decade, food prices remain high and food insecurity persists.
“It is unacceptable that trillions of naira were committed to agriculture with little impact on food security, rural livelihoods and import dependence,” he said.
The speaker cautioned that any Ministry, Department, Agency or Participating Financial Institution that fails to honour invitations, withholds information or provides false records would face summons, contempt proceedings or warrants in line with constitutional provisions and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
“No institution is above the law. No agency is immune from oversight,” he stated.
