Speaker Tajudeen Abbas dissolved the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Petroleum (Midstream and Downstream) yesterday.
It was discovered that for weeks, there had been circulating accusations of inducement against the committee.
Speaker Abbas was attacked by a few constitutional attorneys and civil society groups (CSOs) operating under the auspices of the Alliance for Transparency (AFT) for calling off the joint committee’s dissolution.
The group said that the sudden dissolution, which came after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) rejected some overtures, seemed to be an illegal attempt to hide some significant issues in a joint statement released by its spokesman, Mr. John Lalong.
The leadership of the Green Chamber dissolved the joint committee and established an ad hoc committee to conduct the probe in its place, according to a statement released by House Spokesman Akin Rotimi Jr. Wednesday.
The statement reads: “Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad hoc committee with the same mandate.
“To ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity; the House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course.”
However, the Alliance for Transparency expressed shock in their statement that the House leadership dissolved a standing committee with a mere statement from its spokesman, abruptly ending an assignment assigned to the committee.
The group reminded that the topic was referred to the joint committee, which is chaired by Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Okojie, for investigation only after a resolution was reached at a plenary session of the full House.
They noted that the public’s increased interest and the state of the economy demonstrated that they trusted the House to identify and address issues pertaining to the downstream and midstream oil sectors, among other areas.
The group was disappointed that the NNPCL, unsatisfied with the joint committee of the Green Chamber’s unyielding position, had allegedly forced the House leadership to get the desired result, only hours before the dissolution.
The group claimed that a resolution passed by the House in plenary was the only method to overturn the referral, calling the dissolution an unlawful attempt by the House to hide the corruption in the petroleum industry.
However, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO) declared that it was in favour of the investigation committee’s dissolution.
Yesterday, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO) and its National Secretary, Idowu Adeniyi, released a joint statement in Abuja. The statement stated: “Today, we stand united as the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO) to express our unwavering support for the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“In light of recent events, we commend the Speaker for his decisive action in disbanding the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream). This committee had been mired in allegations of harassment, extortion, blackmail, and an unfair approach to the probe process within the oil sector.
“The Speaker’s decision is a testament to his commitment to upholding the tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. By disbanding this committee, he has sent a clear message that unethical behaviour and misconduct will not be tolerated. This action not only restores confidence in the integrity of our legislative processes but also ensures that the interests of the Nigerian people are safeguarded.
“We acknowledge the complexities and challenges inherent in overseeing such a critical sector as petroleum resources. However, it is imperative that those entrusted with this responsibility conduct their duties with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. The Speaker’s bold move reflects a commitment to these principles and a dedication to ensuring that the truth prevails.”
