Punch Newspapers
Sections
Okechukwu Nnodim and Kariola Mustapha
Published 11 May 2021
Published 11 May 2021
The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a panel of enquiry on the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority and ordered the panel to investigate policies of the suspended managing director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman.
In a March 4, 2021 letter to the President by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the FMoT alleged that the NPA under the leadership of Bala-Usman failed to remit N165.32bn to the Consolidated Revenue Fund from 2016 to 2020.
The ministry called for an investigation and audit of NPA’s accounts and further stated that there were unremitted deductions to FIRS by NPA that include N3,667,750,470; $148,845,745.04; €4,891,449.50; and £252,682.14.
Some analysts were of the opinion that an administrative will amount to a waste of time, insisting that even the composition leaves much to be desired.
The minority caucus in the House of Representatives agreed with this observation, saying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must do its work of unravelling financial malfeasance in government instead of allowing the political class to reduce a serious financial misconduct to the normal ritual of setting up a committee that will not lead to anywhere.
Amaechi, Hadiza must come out clean
The PDP in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the alleged looting of over N165 billion at the NPA must be thoroughly investigated by the EFCC which is saddled with such responsibility.
By Kasim Sumaina
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Monday inaugurated a seven-man panel of enquiry to probe the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hajia Hazida Bala-Usman
The panel is to examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the suspended Managing Director while at the helms and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 till date.
The minister, during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, noted that the terms of reference of the panel include examining and investigating issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and presidential directives.
Mr Amaechi, while inaugurating the panel of enquiry, tasked the members to be honest and thorough in their investigation.
The terms and references of the committee include: “Examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 date.
“Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and Presidential directives.
“Examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtained in the Public Service.