The House of Representatives adhoc committee on disposal of public property has expressed displeasure over some agencies who have repeatedly shunned the committee’s invitation to appear before it in regards to the illegal sale of government assets by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere who gave the warning at the resumed hearing of the panel in Abuja called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA,Managing Director Mallam Mohammed Bello Koko and Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi to appear before it to defend their actions.
According to the Chairman, “NIMASA and NPA seem to have a notorious tendency not to respond to invitations from the parliament and we are not going to tolerate this” he said.
“The Nigeria Customs had a tendency not to honour our invitations in the 9th Assembly. But this Assembly will not allow that. I advise the CG of Customs to get in touch with the clerk of the committee and get a date to appear and give us the required documents and information.
“Also, the ministry of water resources- there is no representative from the ministry here. It is a very bad way to start with an administration that is out to change the course of things and improve the lot of Nigerians. I will advise the permanent secretary to get in touch with the clerk of this committee and get a new date.
“I have a feeling some of them think what we are doing here is a joke but by the time they discover that it is not a joke, it will be too late.
“So, we are giving the NPA, NIMASA, Customs and Ministry of Water Resources another opportunity to cause an appearance before this committee before we take the next step”.
Earlier, the panel rejected the presentation from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which was represented by the liaison officer, Mr. Pascal Nnolie and that of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority represented by the Managing Director, Babalola Olatunji.
The committee, however, commended the managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Mohammed Adara for his presentation.
They advised the managing director to furnish them with the remaining documents.
Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji
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