House of Reps summons NNPC subsidiaries

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account has summoned all subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over financial queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

Wole Oke (PDP-Osun), The Chairman of the committee, said this at an investigative hearing in Abuja.

“This parliament is a parliament of rules and the Constitution of Nigeria has given us a window to conduct our activities in a manner that is suitable for us.

“When we asked your subsidiaries to cause appearance, it is pursuant to section 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We want to hear from them. We want to extract pieces of evidence from them because there are officers that are chief executives of those subsidiaries.

“We have queries against NAPINS. Yes, they report to you. It is our own right in this parliament to determine how we conduct our businesses,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPC, Umar Ajiya, said he was able to speak for the agencies since they reported to the NNPC.

“I am responsible for the entire financial reporting of the group and so also the group managing director with the gentlemen with me here, we can answer any question,” he said.

Mr Ajiya added that in the real sense, the NNPC did not owe. Instead, according to him, the federal government owes the corporation.

 Suzan O/NAN