By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to set up an committee to investigate the alleged theft of twenty billion naira (N20bn) by the staff of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL.
The House decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by a member from Kano State Hon Hafiz Kawu, during plenary.
The lawmaker alleged that staff of NNPCL were reported to have diverted the funds under the guise of consultancy fees paid to it’s consultant Messrs Sapphire.
The funds according to him is part of the money meant for the payment of taxes to state governments by the corporation.
He expressed concern that at a time when the Nigerian government was doing it’s best to fight corruption and harnesses resources for the development of infrastructure, staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utilization of state resources not to corruptly divert same.
“Staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utility of state resources not to corruptly divert it. If no action is urgently taken by this hallow chamber to nip this unethical and unwholesome practice in the bud, it will negatively affect the budget of our nation as well as deprive other state government of its revenue,” Kawu said.
The committee is expected to report back in four weeks for further legislative action.
