An ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has warned government agencies against ignoring parliamentary invitations, saying it will not hesitate to invoke constitutional powers against them.

The Committee to Investigate and Appraise the Performance and Benefits Accruing to the Federal Government from All Concessionaire-Operated Ports (Air and Sea) Terminals and Related Inbound and Outbound Shipping Activities from 2006 to 2025 gave the warning on Friday in Abuja.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, chairman of the committee, Rep. Kolawole Akinlayo (APC–Ekiti), said the committee had invited some agencies that had continued to dishonour invitations.

According to him, the agencies include the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Intels Nigeria Limited, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Julius Berger Plc.

“We have been transparent and very democratic in the exercise of our powers and have restrained ourselves from high-handedness.

“Unfortunately, more than one month into this onerous assignment, we have been faced with the daunting challenge of compelling relevant agencies of the Federal Government to appear and provide the necessary and required information to enable the committee complete its work within the stipulated time.

“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.

“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,” Mr Akinlayo said.

The lawmaker noted that in drastic instances, the legislature has the constitutional power to recommend the removal of office holders where it is believed that the office holder 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 head of agency.

“We will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of agency 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,” he said.

The chairman said the committee was inaugurated, among other things, to examine the terms and conditions of concession agreements entered into from 2006 to 2025.

He said the panel was to carry out an assessment of revenue flows, remittances and other financial benefits accruing to the Federal Government and its agencies.

He said the committee was also saddled with the responsibility of reviewing compliance with contractual, regulatory and safety obligations by concessionaires, as well as appraising infrastructural development, operational efficiency, service quality and labour issues.

The lawmaker said the panel was equally expected to identify challenges, gaps and systemic weaknesses within the concession framework and formulate clear and practicable recommendations to improve policy, legislation and future concession arrangements.

According to him, the committee members are not out to witch-hunt anybody or organisation, stressing, however, that the mandate given to them by the House must be accomplished.

“In doing so, we will not spare any CEO or officer or individual or group that have resolved to treat the parliament with contempt,” he warned.

Mr Akinlayo said Nigerians deserved to know whether concessions had delivered value for money, complied with contractual obligations, enhanced national competitiveness, protected public assets and contributed meaningfully to economic growth, employment and revenue generation. 

(NAN)