ABUJA — Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its absence at a National Assembly committee hearing, accusing the state-owned oil firm of acting as though it is above government institutions.
Speaking during the committee session, the senator representing Edo North said President Bola Tinubu personally presents the annual budget to the National Assembly and does not delegate the responsibility to officials, despite the budget being prepared by financial experts.
According to Oshiomhole, the President’s approach demonstrates respect for the constitutional roles of the executive and legislature, a standard he said the NNPCL should emulate.
“Even the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, does not delegate his finance officer to present the annual budget, which is prepared by financial gurus. He leaves the Villa to address the Senate President, the Chairman of the legislative arm, senators, and members of the House of Representatives,” he said.
The former Edo State governor questioned why NNPCL officials failed to appear before lawmakers, suggesting the company was acting as though it was bigger than the Nigerian state.
“I have issues with why NNPCL thinks it is too big. They are bedridden, they have medical certificates; may they not be bedridden for too long so that the country can move on,” he added.
Oshiomhole further stressed that the NNPCL remains an agency of the Federal Government and is accountable to the National Assembly, which represents the Nigerian people.
“I think the NNPCL is forgetting that it is an agency of government, while we are representatives of the people. You cannot behave as if you’re above the representatives of the people. I refuse to believe that the NNPCL is bigger than the system,” he said.
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