The National Assembly has sent a strong message to Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, over the persistent disregard shown by agencies under his ministry for invitations to appear before lawmakers. The stern warning was issued during the Minister’s appearance before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on January 22, 2025, to present the 2025 budget proposal for the ministry.
Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, voiced his displeasure at the ongoing refusal of some aviation agencies to honor the National Assembly’s requests. This continued snubbing has become a source of frustration for lawmakers, especially given their constitutional role in holding government agencies accountable.
“I want to begin by addressing a matter that has been a growing concern for us,” Senator Buhari remarked, his voice tinged with frustration. “It is simply unfair for any government agency to ignore the invitations of this Assembly. We are the representatives of the people, and it is our duty to ensure that these agencies are held accountable for their actions.”
Buhari emphasized that the National Assembly has the legal authority to summon any government agency, and it is unacceptable for agencies to repeatedly dismiss these summons. The senator further pointed out that some agencies within the Ministry of Aviation had ignored multiple calls and letters from the National Assembly, a breach of decorum that he found “unfair and disrespectful.”
“We have the power to invite and to summon,” Senator Buhari continued, his tone firm. “It’s always better when agencies voluntarily honor these invitations. We don’t want to escalate matters unnecessarily. So, Minister, we are appealing to you—please urge your agencies to respond appropriately when they receive communication from the National Assembly.”
The aviation sector has been a focus of national concern due to its central role in facilitating both domestic and international travel, and its extensive impact on Nigeria’s economy. However, repeated gaps in accountability and transparency from agencies under Keyamo’s ministry have raised alarms among lawmakers, many of whom have expressed dissatisfaction over the way the ministry’s operations are being managed.
The Joint Committee’s remarks came just before Minister Keyamo presented the budget proposal for his ministry for the upcoming fiscal year. The 2025 budget request, which totals a staggering N71,123,368,096, is aimed at funding both capital projects and operational expenses within the aviation sector. Of the total, N69,220,036,250 is earmarked for capital projects, with the remainder dedicated to personnel costs and overheads.
However, the Minister’s presentation was met with a further setback as the Joint Committee immediately deferred the budget proposal. Lawmakers demanded additional documentation on the ministry’s ongoing projects, noting that they needed a more comprehensive understanding of how funds from the previous years had been utilized before considering the new budget.
“We cannot simply approve a new budget without seeing the details of the ongoing projects and the status of past funding,” stated one committee member. “This is to ensure that public funds are being spent responsibly, and that we are not approving proposals without the necessary oversight.”
The committee has given Keyamo’s Ministry a one-week deadline to provide the requested documents, including records of ongoing projects and an accounting of how previous allocations have been utilized. This move is expected to delay the final approval of the 2025 budget proposal until full clarity on past and current expenditures is achieved.
The minister’s budget presentation follows a series of challenging developments within the aviation sector, which has seen a series of operational issues, including delays in ongoing infrastructure projects and concerns over safety standards. These issues have placed additional pressure on the Ministry of Aviation, as lawmakers continue to push for more transparency and better management of public funds.
Aviation experts and stakeholders in the industry have also weighed in on the ongoing issues within the sector. Many are concerned that the lack of collaboration between the Ministry and the National Assembly could lead to further delays in the implementation of essential aviation projects that are critical to Nigeria’s economic growth. One aviation analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the lack of responsiveness from some agencies could “hinder the progress of essential reforms needed to modernize the sector.”
“Without transparency and accountability, it becomes nearly impossible to move forward with key reforms,” the analyst said. “The ministry must work with the National Assembly, not against it, if it hopes to make any meaningful progress in the coming years.”
The cautioning of Keyamo comes at a time when the government has been under increased scrutiny over the management of key sectors, including aviation, transportation, and energy. The National Assembly’s stance reflects a broader concern within the legislature about the need for greater cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, particularly when it comes to matters of public interest and national development.
Political observers suggest that the standoff between the National Assembly and the Ministry of Aviation is part of a larger struggle for influence and control over the direction of key infrastructure projects in the country. The National Assembly, as a representative body of the people, has been vocal about its role in checking the power of the executive branch and ensuring that all government ministries are held accountable for their actions.
Keyamo’s ministry, on the other hand, has often defended its actions, citing the challenges it faces in managing the country’s aviation infrastructure. The ministry has also argued that the demands placed upon it by lawmakers and other stakeholders are sometimes unrealistic, given the complex nature of the projects involved.
Despite the ongoing tensions, both the National Assembly and Keyamo’s ministry will need to find common ground if they are to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation sector is properly managed and able to meet the growing demands of the nation. The coming weeks will likely determine whether the current impasse can be resolved amicably or whether it will escalate into a more significant standoff between the legislative and executive branches of government.
