Properties Auctioning: Reps Probe Customs, NIMASA, NPA, Others
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Disposal of Public Property, on Thursday, summoned the Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh; the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mallam Mohammed Koko; and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to defend the auctioning of some public properties by the agencies.
The Chairman of the committee, who is also the House leader, Julius Ihonvbere, issued the summons at the resumed hearing of the panel.
The committee was investigating the illegal auctioning of government properties by various ministries and agencies.
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, get a date to appear, and give us the required documents and information.
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“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.”
Ihonvbere added, “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 make an appearance before this committee before we take the next step.”
Earlier, the panel rejected the presentation from the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 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.
Dismissing the submission from NRC, Ihonvbere said, “The documents before me are those of 2015 and 2016 earlier submitted to the committee on public accounts of the House.
“With due respect to your MD, this is an insult to this committee and the parliament. You can’t give us documents from 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.”
