Showdown with Executive brewing as Reps issue stern warning

Heads of four government agencies have been summoned by the House of Representatives to appear before it on Monday, August 19 for failing to attend an investigative hearing.

This followed the ruling of the Yusuf Buba ad hoc committee at a public hearing on Thursday in Abuja.

Those summoned are, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari; Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.); and the Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi.

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The officials failed to attend an investigative hearing organised by the House on the waning state of ports in the country, leading to the congestion and perennial gridlock at the Apapa Port, Lagos State.

It also touched on the need to determine why the Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onne and Onitsha inland complexes are not being put into maximum use.

Buba had frowned at the non-appearance by the officials, whom he described as critical stakeholders in the maritime sector, a major part of the country’s economy.

“This is a slap on the face of the institution, we will not condone it,” Buba stated.

The committee, at the close of the hearing, resolved that the absent officials must appear before the panel on Monday.

Yakub warned that the lawmakers would be forced to invoke their constitutional powers if those summoned failed to attend the next sitting by the panel.

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