The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, has apologised to the Senate Committee on Finance for failing to honour previous invitations by the panel, easing tensions between the commission and lawmakers.
Newsonspot reports that Magaji’s appearance followed a resolution by the committee recommending his removal to President Bola Tinubu over what lawmakers described as his “repeated refusal” to honour legislative summons. The motion was initially moved by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a budget defence session.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, had earlier accused the CAC boss of consistently ignoring invitations from the National Assembly, raising concerns about executive-legislative relations.
Appearing before the panel on Monday, Magaji tendered an unreserved apology, attributing his absence to a communication gap within the commission.
“I sincerely tender my apology. It is not our conduct, and it’s not my conduct. I hold this committee in high esteem,” he said, explaining that he had travelled from Lagos and arrived late after receiving the invitation notice shortly before the meeting.
Magaji admitted to internal lapses in communication between the CAC and the National Assembly and disclosed that a dedicated liaison office has now been created to ensure smoother coordination with lawmakers.
“This is my undertaking; it will never happen again,” he assured the committee.
Following his apology, several senators acknowledged his remorse and appealed for reconsideration of the earlier recommendation for his removal. Senator Diket Plang urged the panel to give him another opportunity, while Senator Yahaya Abdullahi cautioned that legislative summons must always be respected.
Subsequently, Senator Isah Jibrin moved a motion to rescind the removal recommendation. The motion was seconded by Senator Nasir Zangon and was unanimously adopted by the committee.
In his closing remarks, Musa reaffirmed the constitutional authority of the National Assembly to summon and hold public officials accountable.
“The National Assembly is above everyone else,” he declared, stressing that the Constitution empowers lawmakers to demand accountability from all officeholders.
The development marks a de-escalation in the standoff and underscores the importance of cooperation between government agencies and the legislature.
