The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, has warned companies operating in Nigeria to stop snubbing invitations made to them by the House.
He gave the warning at a public hearing on “A bill to regulate Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria and for other related matters” held in Abuja.
The Speaker who was represented by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere emphasized that the success of the legislative process is dependent on the public response and contributions to the public hearing.
He called on stakeholders to make meaningful contribution that will make the bill a reality.
“Public hearing is part of our legislative process to engage the citizens in lawmaking, especially because the proposed law has impact on the people. Your robust ideas and expected contribution to the discourse will no doubt shape the outcome of this meeting” he said.
The Chairman of the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Hon Oby Orogbu, said some companies operating in the country have over time violated the law, hence the need for punishment to be meted at them.
He frowned at the National Communications Commission (NCC), MTN and Airtel insisting that they have several times ignored the invitation of the Committee hence the need for the Committee to invoke its powers by issuing warrants of arrest.
“Section 89, 8 of the Constitution mandates individual companies as invited to make themselves available to parliament but they break the law. I want to tell you Sir, MTN, Airtel they take so much from our nation and they feel too big to appear before the parliament, we will not tolerate that.
“I want you as a regulatory body to organize a meeting between this parliament and the telecommunication. We gave them the powers to operate in Nigeria so to refuse to honour the invitation of the parliament is a no, no. We take exception to it. The parliament is frowning at it and this is an opportunity to say it clearly.
“We want the Committee to be socially responsible. If you are providing any social responsibility, let us know what you are doing. All we want to know is what you are doing. We are not here to witch-hunt any company. As a public affairs representative of NCC, please reach out to these telecompanies and tell them to make themselves available.
Punishments
While making his presentation, a representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Wondi Ndanusa said the CBN is in support of the bill. He however raised concerns on the proposed penalty of imprisonment to defaulting companies. He said rather than the penalty, it should be persuasive.
He proposed that CSR should be domiciled in Corporate Affairs Commission.
In her response, the Chairman of the Committee disagreed in making punishments persuasive.
He said that fine must be put in place to make them responsible.
Speaking also at the hearing, the representative of Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, Bala Wuoir expressed concern that PIA already mandates oil companies operating in Nigeria to make financial contributions of 3% of their profit to NDDC, so mandating them to do more will be burdensome on them.
He however said that oil companies should be exempted from the bill.
The chairman of the Committee in response insisted that they cannot be exempted, adding that the Committee requires them to bring whatever they are doing as a social corporate responsibility to the knowledge of the committee.
He said the bill seeks to provide legal status and guidelines to corporate responsibility for better coordination and regulation.
Emmanuel Ukoh
