(SINL NIGERIA) The House of Representatives on Renewable energy has said it will not hesitate to invoke provisions of the constitution on any Ministry, Department or Agencies (MDAs) that shun its invitation.
This followed non appearance of no fewer than 16 MDAs on the first day of its 2-day public hearing held on Monday in Abuja.
Chairman of the committee, Honourable Afam Ogene made this known at the investigative hearing on government investments and grants received for renewable energy development from 2015 to date.
Indeed, he advised the erring MDAs to study provisions of the constitution and honour its invitations in future to avoid sanctions.
According to Ogene the minister of power who should be the first to applaud the initiative of the committee neither made a presentation nor appearance on the first day of the 2-day public hearing.
“The minister power is not alone, others like NASENI, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation limited (NNPCL), Federal ministry of finance, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring, ministry of petroleum resources (gas), federal ministry of agriculture and food security did not appear.
Others are, the Niger Delta Development Commisssion (NDDC), federal ministry of budget and economic planning, federal ministry of science innovation and technology, Office of the accountant general of the federation, federal ministry of environment and ecological management, the auditor general of the federation office and ministry of marine and blue economy.
“But let me also say that this committee cannot be frustrated, indeed the house of representatives which is the people’s house is determined to get to the root of this investigation”.
He continued “We have a clear mandate and nobody can stop us from getting appropriate information. As a parliament, the constitution is the grande norm. We will advise the erring MDAs to take today to study provisions of the constitution. I hope they will not force this committee to invoke provisions of the constitution on them”.
Consequently, the chairman of the committee urged the agencies especially, “the chief executives that we have read out are expected to appear before this committee tomorrow”.
