FIRS, Customs, Immigration, others have been ranked low in the House of Representatives 2025 legislative compliance index
The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance has ranked several federal agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, among the worst-performing institutions in terms of compliance with legislative resolutions.
In its April 2025 publication, Parliament Reports, through the Legislative Compliance Index (LCI), revealed that it is rare for a week to pass in the National Assembly without reports of government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) ignoring summons from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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The Committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Ahmed Bada’u, made the disclosure in a publication released during the National Assembly Open Week held between July 8 and 10, 2025. The event, which brought together key stakeholders from government and civil society, highlighted the legislature’s efforts to hold Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) accountable.
According to the committee’ publication, the ranking was based on the 2025 Legislative Compliance Index, which assessed MDAs under three categories: “Best,” “Good,” and “Bad.”
“Despite sustained efforts by the committee to engage MDAs through invitations and formal summons for interactive sessions, some organizations—such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, NigComSat, and the Office of the Accountant General—never responded,” the committee said. “We express strong displeasure with agencies that disregard House resolutions or fail to communicate the extent of their compliance.”
Agencies with Best Compliance
MDAs ranked in the “Best” category include the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and three tertiary institutions—Federal University of Science, Azare; University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi; and Federal University, Wukari.
Agencies with Good Compliance
In the “Good” category, the committee listed the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Police Service Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Transport, and Ministry of Environment.
Committee Activities and Milestones
The committee noted that since its inauguration on July 27, 2023, the committee has received over 400 resolution referrals from the House and received feedback on approximately 135 of them. The committee also held more than 30 interactive sessions with various stakeholders. Some key sessions include:
- An interactive session with the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission on April 16, 2024
- A session with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on May 14, 2024
- A joint investigative hearing with the Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements and the Chinese Ambassador over alleged “slave agreements” between Nigerian MDAs and the Chinese government on August 15, 2025
- A joint session on late singer Mohbad’s royalties with the Committees on Youth and Justice on October 30, 2023
- A session with the Natural Medicine Development Agency (NMDA) on April 10, 2025
Legislative Mandate and Oversight Powers
Citing Sections 62(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and House Standing Orders Order 20 rule ‘B’81(2)(a)-(d) rule 64 (1 and 2), the committee outlined its mandate, which includes:
“To ensure that all House delegations to parliamentary conferences, training seminars and capacity building are attended.
“To follow up and receive the report of all House delegations to local and international parliamentary conferences and seminars and causing the communique, decisions, and agreements to be presented and acted upon by the house.”
On budget oversight, the committee emphasized its constitutional authority to investigate “We are empowered by the constitution to investigate any thing or matter with respect to which it has power to make laws as well as conduct the affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged with the duty of or responsibility for executing or administering laws enacted by the national assembly and disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by the National assembly.”
The 2025 Legislative Compliance Index is expected to serve as a key accountability tool for tracking the responsiveness of federal agencies to legislative oversight.
The committee consists of twenty five (25) Members including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman:
Rep.Yusuf Ahmed Bada’u as the Chairman and Rep. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe as the Deputy Chairman
Members of the committee include: Rep. Oduodor Uduak Shedrack, Rep. Offiong Godwin Odey Ekpo, Rep. Okolie Ngoze Lawrence, Rep. Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi, Rep. Mansur Musa, Rep. Ahmed Dadam, Rep. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun, Rep. Nwaeke Felix Uche, Rep. Benson Bajami, Rep. Alaoakala Olamijuwonlo Ayodeji, Rep. Mukhtar Zakari, Rep. Jesse Okay-Joe Onuakalusi, Rep. Vincent Bulus, Rep. Yusuf Salisu Majigiri, Rep. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, Rep. Bill Osawaru, Rep. Oke Busayo Oluwole, Rep. Ogene Victor Afamefuna, Rep. Michael Obekpa, Rep. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Rep. Hamisu Ibrahim, Rep. Abdullahi Mu’azu and Baba Sabo has the Committees Clerk.
