Reps order suspension of NRS recruitment, threaten sanctions against chairman

By Gift Chapi Odekina

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has ordered the immediate suspension of all recruitment activities by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), while threatening to invoke its constitutional powers to sanction the agency’s Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, over his repeated failure to honour legislative invitations.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, accused the NRS boss of showing “continued disregard for the constitutional authority of the National Assembly” by ignoring several summons and requests for official documents.

At a meeting in Abuja, the committee said it would rely on Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to compel compliance if Adedeji continues to ignore its directives. The provisions empower the National Assembly to investigate government agencies, summon witnesses, compel the production of documents and issue warrants where necessary.

According to the committee, a letter dated July 15, 2026, titled “Request for Nominal Roll/Invitation to Meeting,” directed the NRS chairman to submit a comprehensive and up-to-date nominal roll of the service and appear before the committee on July 22. However, Adedeji failed to attend the meeting.