A former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, has accused the National Assembly committees of overstepping their oversight powers.

While presenting a paper on Wednesday at a workshop organised by the Senate Press Corps on the theme “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities” in Abuja, Enang asserted that lawmakers must respect constitutional boundaries.

He based his position on judicial pronouncements that have clarified the limits of legislative authority.

Citing case law, including DHL International Nigeria Ltd v. Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018), Enang recalled that Justice Ayokunle Faji held that private firms do not fall within the scope of Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the legislature to summon individuals or entities.

“It is an abuse of power when committees descend into the arena of the executive or the private sector,” Enang said.

He further aligned with a recent petition by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which raised concerns about repeated summons to private companies by some committees.

Turning to the theme of parliamentary reporting, Enang urged journalists to deepen their knowledge of bills, the Constitution, and legislative procedures.

“This is not an ordinary beat. You must read the bills, know the Constitution, and understand parliamentary procedure. Otherwise, you are simply chasing controversies rather than reporting substance,” he said.

He noted with concern that some reporters focus on side comments and disagreements in plenary while neglecting the core issues under debate.

Enang added, “I have seen situations where a member comes to debate an amendment bill without looking at the principal Act being amended. If you don’t understand the bill, how can journalists report it?”

He reminded reporters that they serve as the institutional memory of the legislature, stressing that their coverage provides precedents for both new and returning members.