The House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating the failure of Mass Transit Schemes in Nigeria has summoned the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun to to appear before it unfailingly.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Afam Ogene who gave the ruling in Abuja during the resumption of the hearing observed that key ministries and agencies have failed to appear despite receiving notices from the Clerk of the committee one week before its takeoff.
Ogene also threatened to invoke sections of the Constitution and the Act of parliament that gives the House the power to invite any Nigerian or individual domiciled in the country and doing business within.
He said that “the committee was determined to carry this assignment and ensure that previous monies that have gone out to different private operators of mass transit schemes were recovered and properly accounted for.”
The panel also summoned the Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein and the Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan to appear before it over the failed mass transit scheme in the country.
Ogene said that all those affected were needed to give information to the panel regarding disbursement for the various failed mass transit schemes.
He said; “Additionally, the Clerk of this committee is to invite the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Bank to appear on the same day and time. Let me warn you that this invitation is not frivolous, this is an invitation extended to them by the House of Representatives of Nigeria. And if for any reason, any of them fail to honour this invitation, we shall invoke the full power of this committee as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The House had during plenary before adjourning for recess through a resolution, passed a motion to investigate reasons Mass transit scheme projects failed woefully.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
