Reps C”ttee summon acting Controller General of Customs

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the sales and disposal of public property has summoned the Acting Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi to appear before it unfailingly on Monday 24th Sept 2023 as service again ignored the Parliament, despite repeated invitations.
The Ad-hoc Committee headed by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare equally frowned at the Service.
It would be recalled that the mandate of the Ad-hoc Committee is to investigate the disposal of public property from 2010 to 2022 as well as to unravel the extent of illegal auctioning of public property and non-remittance of revenue realized into the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation.
Speaking against the development, the Chairman of the probe panel Hon. Ihonvbare informed that his Committee is not happy with the Service because of it repeated absent stressing that various resources have been expended regarding invitation to the agency only for representatives to appear before the committee with flimsy excuses from their principal.
The Chairman further expressed disappointment over alleged arrogance and abuse of power and indiscipline in the public service by some public servants stressing his Commitee readiness to check and prevent such unhealthy trend as it could have negative consequences.
Meanwhile the panel also met with the management of the Nigerian Port Authority,NPA, where the General Manager Procurement Engr. Anas Sulieman represented the agency.
The probe panel directed representatives of NPA to come along with the lists of properties slated for auctioning as well as the evaluation reports and names of registered valuers involved.
They were also directed to come back with government approval including those from the Federal executive council, certification of no objection where necessary, evidence of remittances into the consolidated revenue fund, bidding procedures and publication, selection and every other document that will assist the committee to carry out it mandate to Nigerians.