Lawmakers’ incessant summons threatening investment,

Nigeria’s leading business groups under the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) have raised alarm over what they described as the “incessant and unlawful” summons of private companies by committees of the National Assembly.

In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, OPSN, which includes the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), joined by ATCON, OPTS, AFBTE and over 25 other sectoral associations, warned that the practice is stifling productivity, discouraging foreign investment, and undermining government’s Ease of Doing Business reforms.

Citing constitutional provisions and court precedents, the group insisted that the National Assembly’s oversight powers do not extend to private entities. “The courts have made this clear. In the DHL International Nigeria Limited vs Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria case, the court unequivocally held that private companies do not fall within the category of persons contemplated by sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution,” the letter noted.

It added that constant summonses amount to a duplication of regulatory oversight, which constitutionally falls under the Executive through ministries, departments, and agencies. “The purported investigations being carried out by the committees fall within the jurisdiction of the Executive arm of government as expressly stated in Section 5 of the Constitution,” OPSN stressed.

Beyond legality, the group warned of dire economic consequences. “The summons has led to high financial costs for companies, with executives compelled to travel frequently to Abuja for hearings—incurring flight, accommodation, and legal expenses. More damaging is the disruption of operations, as senior managers and technical experts are pulled away from their businesses, leading to missed deadlines, lost output, and weakened competitiveness,” OPSN explained.

The coalition urged lawmakers to exercise restraint pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter and called on President Tinubu to intervene to safeguard investor confidence. “We can further strengthen Nigeria’s reputation as a stable, business-friendly destination capable of attracting and retaining capital by addressing these challenges. We reaffirm our readiness to collaborate with the government in finding practical solutions for Nigeria’s sustainable economic transformation,” OPSN stated.

While clarifying that the private sector is not opposed to regulation, OPSN emphasised that rules must facilitate growth, not serve as bottlenecks.

“Sustainability of enterprises can only be achieved with an efficient and predictable regulatory environment supported by stable policies and viable incentives,” the letter concluded.