The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the benefits accruing to the federal government from the concessioning of Nigerian ports and terminals has given a last warning to the heads of government agencies over their refusal to honour its invitations and provide necessary documents needed for the probe.
The agencies include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo, who gave the warning while briefing parliamentary reporters on Friday, asked the heads of the agencies to change their attitude towards the panel or have themselves to blame.
Akinlayo said henceforth the committee would no longer tolerate contempt of parliament, as it had resolved to invoke the relevant constitutional provisions to compel any erring head of agency to appear before the probe panel.
“You are aware that Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provide guidelines and powers to assist the legislature in carrying out its oversight functions. These include issuing summons, warrants and fines when its orders, as approved by the Constitution, are violated.
“In more drastic instances, the legislature has the constitutional power to recommend the removal of office holders where it is believed that such office holders are not effectively discharging their constitutional or statutory duties.
“I wish to state without mincing words that this committee will not hesitate to subpoena any disrespectful and uncooperative CEO or head of MDAs. We will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of an MDA who fails to honour our invitation.
“Anyone who is out to sabotage our work will no longer be given the oxygen to undermine the legislature. We shall invoke the necessary constitutional provisions to compel compliance with the directives of the committee.
“We are not witch-hunting anybody or any organisation, but the mandate given to us by the House must be accomplished. In doing so, we will not spare any CEO, officer, individual, or group that has resolved to treat the parliament with contempt.
.“Like I have always said, Nigerians deserve to know whether these concessions have delivered value for money, complied with contractual obligations, enhanced national competitiveness, protected public assets, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth, employment, and revenue generation. The only way we can get these answers is to engage judiciously with all stakeholders.
“On behalf of the Ad-hoc Committee and indeed the leadership of the House of Representatives, I hereby appeal to the aforementioned organisations and agencies to kindly comply with the letters of invitation extended to them. We shall not entertain any frivolous excuses because this assignment must be executed within the stipulated time,” he added.
