By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating benefits accruing to the Federal Government from concessionaire-operated ports has issued a final warning to several government agencies to appear before it and submit requested documents.
The committee is probing concessions of air and sea terminals across the country between 2006 and 2025 to determine the revenue and other benefits accruing to the Federal Government.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Davidson Akinlayo, said members of the panel have approached the assignment with a strong sense of duty and commitment to national interest.
“Since the exercise began, members of this panel have approached their mandate with the highest sense of duty, responsibility, professionalism and commitment to the national interest,” Akinlayo stated.
He, however, expressed concern that many heads of government agencies invited by the committee have failed to honour its invitation or submit relevant documents required for the investigation.
According to him, the panel has conducted its activities in a transparent and democratic manner without resorting to high-handed tactics.
“We have been transparent and very democratic in the exercise of our powers and have restrained ourselves from high-handedness,” he said.
The committee warned that heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should not become obstacles to the progress of the investigation, noting that they would have themselves to blame if they fail to cooperate.
Despite appearing before the panel, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and some other agencies were said to have failed to provide the necessary documents requested by the committee.
Among the organisations directed to fully cooperate with the investigation are the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigeria LNG Limited, INTELS Nigeria Limited and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
Akinlayo warned that the committee may invoke relevant constitutional provisions to compel compliance.
He said the panel could rely on Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution to compel chief executives of the affected agencies to appear before it.
“We will no longer tolerate contempt of parliament,” the chairman said, stressing the committee’s determination to carry out its mandate.
