The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has strongly criticised the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, over what it described as his persistent refusal to honour invitations from the National Assembly, warning that his continued disregard for legislative oversight undermines the constitutional authority of the parliament.
The committee also ordered the immediate suspension of all ongoing recruitment activities by the Nigeria Revenue Service, warning that it would invoke its constitutional powers to compel compliance if the agency’s leadership continues to ignore lawful directives issued by the House of Representatives.
The resolutions were reached during the committee’s meeting held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, said the latest action became necessary following what lawmakers described as repeated acts of non-compliance by the NRS leadership despite several official communications requesting the agency’s appearance before the committee.
According to Wase, the National Assembly possesses clear constitutional authority to conduct oversight of all government agencies, and no public institution or office holder is exempt from that responsibility.
He explained that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution empower both chambers of the National Assembly to investigate government agencies, expose corruption, inefficiency and waste, compel witnesses to appear before legislative committees, receive evidence under oath and issue warrants where necessary.
The committee warned that it would not hesitate to invoke those constitutional provisions should the NRS chairman continue to ignore invitations extended to him.
Lawmakers disclosed that in a letter dated July 15, 2026, titled “Request for Nominal Roll/Invitation to Meeting,” the committee requested the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service to submit a comprehensive and updated nominal roll of all staff employed by the agency.
The letter also invited Dr. Adedeji to appear before the committee during Wednesday’s meeting to provide explanations regarding several matters under investigation.
However, despite acknowledging receipt of the invitation, the NRS chairman failed to appear before the committee.
The lawmakers noted that Wednesday’s absence was not an isolated incident but part of what they described as a consistent pattern of disregard for legislative oversight.
According to the committee, the latest invitation followed at least seven previous letters sent to the NRS chairman over the past three years.
The communications were dated October 13, 2023; November 7, 2023; March 14, 2024; July 3, 2024; July 16, 2024; April 1, 2026, and the latest correspondence dated July 15, 2026.
The committee stated that all the letters were duly acknowledged by the office of the NRS chairman but were allegedly ignored, with no satisfactory responses provided to the issues raised.
Lawmakers expressed concern that the repeated refusal of the agency’s chief executive to appear before parliament undermines transparency, accountability and democratic governance.
A major source of disagreement between the committee and the Nigeria Revenue Service centres on the controversial recruitment waivers reportedly granted to the agency by the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The committee maintained that it had previously directed the Federal Character Commission not to approve any recruitment waivers for the Nigeria Revenue Service pending the conclusion of legislative investigations into the agency’s employment practices.
Despite that directive, lawmakers alleged that the commission proceeded to grant waivers to the NRS, an action they described as a direct violation of parliamentary instructions.
The committee said such conduct raises serious concerns about compliance with the Federal Character principle and constitutional provisions governing equitable representation in federal appointments.
The meeting also recorded the absence of the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran.
Although the commission communicated her inability to attend the meeting, citing official engagements outside Abuja and subsequent illness, the lawmakers said her explanation did little to address their concerns.
The committee observed that Hon. Omidiran had similarly failed to honour several previous invitations despite repeated official communications.
Members described the repeated absences as unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards of accountability expected of public officials entrusted with constitutional responsibilities.
The lawmakers further criticised the Federal Character Commission for approving recruitment waivers for the Nigeria Revenue Service despite earlier directives from the House Committee.
According to the committee, the decision by the commission amounts to a direct affront to the constitutional oversight responsibilities vested in the National Assembly by the Nigerian people.
Consequently, the committee directed the Federal Character Commission to immediately suspend all recruitment exercises being conducted by the Nigeria Revenue Service until both agencies appear before lawmakers to account for their actions.
Hon. Wase insisted that legislative oversight remains a constitutional obligation rather than a discretionary exercise.
He warned that the House of Representatives would not permit any government institution to determine which constitutional directives to obey or disregard.
“The National Assembly is the voice of the Nigerian people. Its constitutional oversight powers are not symbolic. They are binding instruments of accountability. No agency, commission, or public official is above the Constitution or beyond the reach of parliamentary oversight,” Wase said.
He stressed that compliance with legislative investigations is essential for strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions and ensuring transparency in public administration.
The committee further warned that continued refusal by public officials to honour invitations from the National Assembly creates dangerous precedents capable of weakening Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
According to lawmakers, such conduct erodes public trust in government institutions and undermines the principle of checks and balances upon which democratic governance is founded.
They reiterated their commitment to deploying every constitutional and legislative instrument available to compel compliance with lawful directives issued by the House of Representatives.
Sources within the National Assembly suggested that the reluctance of the Nigeria Revenue Service chairman to appear before the committee may be connected to ongoing concerns regarding previous recruitment exercises conducted by the agency.
According to the sources, lawmakers are examining allegations that certain appointments made by the revenue service violated existing statutory provisions governing appointments into its executive management.
The controversy gained additional attention following an investigative report published by Daily Trust on January 30, 2026, titled “Revenue Service Appointments Flout New Law.”
The report alleged that the appointment of five out of the six Executive Directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service contravened provisions of Part IV, Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act.
Under the Act, each Executive Director is expected to represent one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while the Executive Chairman and an Executive Director are prohibited from originating from the same state.
The newspaper’s investigation reportedly found that five of the appointments did not comply with these statutory requirements.
The alleged violations subsequently prompted legal action by a civil society organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisations of Nigeria.
The organisation instituted a suit before an Abuja High Court challenging the legality of the appointments.
In the suit, the group is seeking an order restraining the affected Executive Directors from performing official duties or presenting themselves as valid occupants of the offices pending the determination of the substantive case.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigeria Revenue Service have all been joined as defendants in the lawsuit.
As investigations continue, the House Committee on Federal Character has maintained that strict adherence to constitutional provisions governing recruitment, appointments and equitable representation remains essential to promoting fairness, accountability and public confidence in federal institutions.
