Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, says the Senate Public Accounts Committee is not established to witch-hunt public officials.
Rather, he said that the committee was set up to strengthen accountability and transparency in governance through oversight of government agencies.
Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, defended the oversight functions of the National Assembly
He said that investigations conducted by the committee were aimed at improving governance rather than punishing individuals.
The senator explained that the committee and its Appropriations counterpart were the two constitutionally-recognised committees that must exist in the national assembly.
According to him, parliamentary practice requires that the appropriations committee be chaired by a member of the ruling party, while the public accounts committee is headed by a member of the opposition to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The work of the public accounts committee should not necessarily be viewed as a probe designed to expose and punish individuals. Its primary responsibility is oversight and accountability,” he said.
Bamidele noted that most of the issues investigated by the committee were drawn from reports submitted by the Auditor-General for the Federation containing observations and findings on government agencies and institutions.
He said that the national assembly remained committed to openness and public accountability, adding that even executive sessions were usually followed by media briefings to keep Nigerians informed of key decisions.
The senate leader explained that some issues that attract widespread public attention were often more complex than they appeared.
This, he said, involved the lawmakers taking into consideration factors such as investor confidence, economic stability and whether identified lapses had already been corrected through reforms.
According to him, oversight interventions frequently result in reforms, administrative changes and corrective actions, even when such outcomes are not immediately visible to the public.
Bamidele said that the collaboration between the legislature and the executive had helped in strengthening institutions and improving governance outcomes.
He assured that the senate would continue to prioritise accountability, transparency and effective oversight as part of its commitment to deepening democracy and promoting good governance.(NAN