By SINL Reporter
The senate committee on local content on Thursday was stunned following absence of Managing Directors of invited oil companies at its investigative hearing.
Though the minister of state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo honoured the invitation, representatives of the oil companies were asked to make an undertaking that they have the capacity to speak for their Managing Directors.
The committee chaired by Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo Central APC) expressed displeasure over the absence of the oil chief executives, saying “there is a reason we invited them, so if they are not here who are we going to relate with”.
Also speaking, Senator Sahabi Abdullahi (Niger North APC) emphasised “We need an undertaking in writing from the representatives of the oil companies, that they will be held responsible for what they say and would not later deny what they told the committee or would like to consult before they answer questions asked by the committee”.
Continuing; “When we set some rules, it is for a particular reason, the Managing Directors have a duty to answer the Parliament.
“For a committee to have all it’s members seated, tells you the importance attached to this assignment” he added.
Meanwhile, the chairman, Senator Folarin ruled that the representatives of the oil companies could sit as observers, but cannot represent their companies
The committee however insisted that the Managing Directors of the oil companies must physically present themselves, not by proxy.
“We will give them another opportunity to appear before the senate, the Managing Directors of the oil companies cannot be above the law” Folarin said.
