REPS SUMMONS NIMASA, NPA, CUSTOMS, OTHERS TO DEFEND AUCTIONING OF SOME PUBLIC PROPERTIES
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The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Koko, and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, were called before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on disposal of public property on Thursday. They were asked to defend the agencies’ auctioning off of some public properties.
The summons was issued at the panel’s resumed hearing by Julius Ihonvbere, the committee’s chairman and leader of the House.
The committee is looking into the unlawful auctioning of public property by numerous departments and organisations.
He said, “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.
“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.
Continuing, Ihonvbere said, “I have a feeling some of them think that 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 make an appearance before this committee before we take the next step.”
Earlier, the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s presentation—made by its liaison officer, Mr. Pascal Nnolie—and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority’s—made by the MD, Engr. Babalola Olatunji—were both rejected by the panel.
Ihonvbere rejected the NRC proposal and stated, “The records before me are those of 2015 and 2016, which were previously provided to the House committee on public accounts.
“With due respect to your MD, this is an insult to this committee and the parliament. You can’t give us documents of 2016 to work with here. The committee is rejecting this presentation. Take them back to your MD and let him show respect to the committee and re-present it in 48 hours.”
To the MD of the Ogun- Osun River Basin, the chairman said, “You people should be careful with the kind of documents you bring to the National Assembly, knowing that you’re under oath.
“It is the view of the committee that your report does not follow the outline in the letter addressed to you. We will step down this report and allow you to go and do a thorough job and send a fresh report within 48 hours.”
The committee, however, commended the MD of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Mohammed Adara for his presentation.
He was advised to furnish the House with the remaining documents.
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