Sokoto Assembly Summons Energy Commissioner For Snubbing Lawmakers’ Oversight Visit

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioner for Energy and Petroleum Resources, Hon. Sanusi Danfulani, to appear before it on Tuesday, August 5, over what lawmakers described as a deliberate snub of an official oversight visit.

The summons followed the absence of the commissioner and other top officials of the ministry during a scheduled inspection by the House Committee on Science and Technology last Thursday.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Awaisu Aliyu, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the commissioner’s conduct, labelling it “a clear demonstration of negligence and disregard for legislative authority,” according to LEADERSHIP.

Aliyu said, “The committee duly informed the ministry about the oversight visit, yet the commissioner and his officials were absent without any formal or informal communication.”

“This undermines our constitutional right and responsibility to carry out oversight functions. As such, the commissioner is directed to appear before the Assembly on August 5 to explain his actions or face necessary sanctions,” he warned.

The Assembly has not disclosed the specific sanctions Danfulani could face if he fails to comply.

Oversight visits are a key function of Nigerian legislative bodies at both state and federal levels, designed to ensure ministries and agencies comply with policy directives, budget implementation, and service delivery mandates.

Commissioners and their staff are expected to cooperate fully during such visits, which are often announced in advance.

The incident comes amid increasing calls for transparency and accountability in the management of the state’s energy and petroleum resources.

Danfulani, appointed as commissioner under Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration, has faced scrutiny in recent months over the ministry’s pace of reform in rural electrification and petroleum distribution.