Following the clash of interests among lawmakers, the leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.
TheHintsNews reports that the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese recently asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.
Similarly, the Special Joint Committee set up by the House led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere last Wednesday directed NNPCL to halt the mortgage of future crude oil for loan from foreign creditors pending the outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of various transactions carried out so far.
However, fifty members of the House of Representatives kicked against the call for the sack of Kyari and Ahmed describing it as premature.
The lawmakers led by Hon. Billy Osawaru while addressing a press conference last Thursday in Abuja said the call for the sacking of Kyari when an investigation was currently being carried out was premature and done in bad fate.
But the spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi in a statement issued Monday said the joint committee initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, would be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.
Rotimi noted: “To ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course.”