HEDA demands transparency as Senate probes oil firms
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called for transparency and public accountability in the Senate’s ongoing investigation into audit queries involving four oil companies.
The companies are Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria, All Grace Energy and Aradel Energy.
HEDA’s Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, made the call in a statement on Monday, following the Senate Public Accounts Committee’s decision to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to the companies to appear before it.
The companies had failed to attend an investigative hearing on audit queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
Suraju said the Senate investigation underscored the importance of effective oversight and transparent management of Nigeria’s natural resources, particularly in the extractive sector.
He said unresolved financial obligations in the sector could have significant implications for government revenue.
“These companies should be given the opportunity to respond fully to the audit queries and present relevant documentation.
“At the same time, any established financial obligations to government must be recovered and accounted for transparently,” he said.
Suraju said public resources belonged to Nigerians and companies operating in the extractive sector had a responsibility to comply with laws governing payment of royalties, taxes and other statutory obligations.
“Where audit queries raise questions about payments due to government, these issues must be investigated openly and resolved based on verifiable evidence,” he said.
The civil society organisation also urged the Senate Public Accounts Committee to conduct the investigation transparently and publish its findings and recommendations.
It specifically called for the publication of details of any outstanding liabilities established against the affected companies.
HEDA said the appearance of Dubri Oil Company before the committee and its submission of documents disputing a reported $3.25 million royalty and gas-flare debt demonstrated the importance of allowing all parties to present evidence.
According to the organisation, disputed figures should be reconciled and verified before conclusions are reached.
HEDA therefore urged the Senate, NEITI, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant agencies to ensure that the investigation produces concrete outcomes.
It cautioned against allowing the matter to become another unresolved audit issue.
The organisation also urged the affected companies to cooperate fully with the investigation and provide all information required to clarify the audit queries.
“Nigerians deserve to know whether revenues arising from the country’s oil and gas resources have been properly assessed, collected and accounted for.
“Legislative oversight must ultimately translate into the protection of public revenue and stronger accountability in the extractive sector,” Suraju said.
