Nigeria’s House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the sales and disposal of public property has again summoned the Nigerian Customs Service to appear before it or face the full wrath of the law.
Chairman of the Committee, Julius Ihonbvere, who made this known at its resumed investigative hearing, berated the Nigerian Customs Service for ignoring several invitations by the committee.
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Ihonvbere explained that the committee is not on a witch-hunting exercise but was constituted to investigate the disposal of public property from 2010 to 2022 as well as to unravel the extent of illegal auctioning of public property and non-remittance of revenue realized into the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation.
The committee chairman, who is also the House Majority Leader, noted that the arrogance of power and indiscipline in the public service could have negative effects on the country’s economy saying efforts will be made by the legislature to address such indiscipline.
The Adhoc Committee picked holes in the presentation of the Nigerian Ports Authority and rescheduled their hearing for a later date to allow them provide the committee with all relevant documents requested.
Some of the documents requested from the NPA include list of property slated for auctioning, evaluation reports, name of registered valuers involved, evidence of remittances into the consolidated revenue fund, bidding procedures, publication, selection process among others.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
