Former Abia State Governor and Senator for Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has taken a bold stand against ministers who disregard Senate summons, urging decisive action from President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking passionately during Friday’s plenary, Kalu called for the dismissal of erring ministers, stating that their behavior undermines the authority of the legislature.
He also urged the Senate to enforce sanctions on ministers and contractors who treat parliamentary invitations with contempt.
“They will insult our chairmen and people working in the Senate. You will invite a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and some of them will not listen to the chairmen of the committee,” he lamented.
Kalu didn’t mince words as he highlighted the frustration of committee leaders being ignored by ministers.
“Enough is enough, we should query these ministers and ask Mr. President to drop them. How can a chairman of a committee be looking for a minister for close to three, four days, and they will not answer the phone? So they are doing the same thing Julius Berger is doing,” he said.
The senator stressed the importance of mutual respect, emphasizing that ministers and parastatal heads must be accountable to the Senate.
“The parliament must put a performance record for every minister, head of parastatals, and submit to the commander-in-chief. We are not here for joke; we have to use our powers,” Kalu asserted, reinforcing his call for greater legislative oversight and discipline.