Reps panel reads riot act to MDAs, others over port concessionaires probe

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the performance and benefits accruing to the federal government from concessionaire-operated port terminals has frowned at the failure of some agencies to honour its invitations.

The chairman of the panel, Kolawole Akinlayo, speaking at a press briefing, accused some of the agencies invited to appear before the ad hoc committee of frustrating its assignment by refusing to honour the invitation or providing incomplete documents.

Akinlayo, who stated that the defaulting agencies and companies include the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NLNG, INTELS and Julius Berger Plc, warned that the parliament would not allow anyone to derail the probe.

According to him, “Many of the important agencies have on several occasions deliberately refused to honour the invitation of the committee for no just cause. In fact, some of the agencies that have so far appeared before the committee could not submit the required documents.

“For example, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had appeared before us but disappointedly failed to comply fully with our requests.

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to give the last warning to the chief executive officers and heads of the following agencies to change their attitude towards the committee or have themselves to blame.

“They include the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NIMASA, NLNG, INTELS and Julius Berger Plc.

“Henceforth, this committee will no longer tolerate contempt of the parliament and we have resolved to invoke the statutory constitutional provisions to compel any erring CEO/head to appear before it.”

The lawmaker added that “you are aware that sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) have provided a list of guidelines and powers that are 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 the office holder(s) is not effectively discharging his constitutional or statutory duties.

“I wish to state without mincing words that this committee will not hesitate to subpoena any disrespectful and uncooperative CEO/head of MDAs; we will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of MDAs that 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.”