The House of Representatives says it has no reason to doubt the integrity of its Ad-hoc Committee To Investigate Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions On Mismanagement of Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, (IPPIS).
The assurance followed a Premium Times publication of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, titled: “INVESTIGATION: Nigerian lawmakers probing job racketeering are extorting money from agencies,” which was brought to the attention of the leadership of the House of Representatives.
In the referenced report, it was alleged that some members were involved in extorting some government entities, to compromise the mandate of the committee.
The House Spokesman/Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Akin Rotimi Jr. in a statement in Abuja, said that members of the committee will not be distracted by the attack.
He said that the House leadership considers these allegations grave and deserving of an appropriate response.
He, however, invited members of the public, and any of the affected government entities with evidence related to the allegations, to approach the House for necessary action.
“We would like to state clearly, that we have no reason to doubt the integrity of the leadership and members of the referenced committee, who were carefully selected based on their respective professional pedigrees, competence and character, to carry out this important national assignment. The public is invited to take cognisance of the fact that following the very serious revelations that have emerged from the work of the referenced committee, which have been well-publicised and televised, it would not be strange for them to face unwarranted attacks on their integrity, individually and collectively, as a means of distracting them,” Hon Rotimi said.
He said that the House wishes to reiterate that Members of the House of Representatives will not be distracted from carrying out their
mandate as enshrined in Section 89 of 1999, which gives the National Assembly powers to expose corruption for the good governance of Nigeria.
“It would be recalled that the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., has stated in multiple engagements that in line with the expectations of Nigerians, the 10th Assembly, House of Representatives will be a champion of anti-corruption efforts in this new dispensation,“ the Spokesman added.
