Ethnic Youth Leaders Condemn Dissolution Of House Joint C’ttee On Oil Sector Probe

Nigerian youths under the aegis of Ethnic Youth Leaders’ Forum (EYLF) have condemned in strong terms the dissolution of the House of Representatives ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee probing the Nigerian oil sector, by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

In a press statement signed by EYLF’s National Coordinator, Comrade Godwin Meliga, on Tuesday, the Forum stated that the sudden, arbitrary and inexplicable dissolution of the House ad-hoc Joint Committee shortly after it commenced its assignment was a brazen attempt by the leadership of the House of Representatives to silence the committee’s courageous exposure of wanton corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and by extension the nation’s oil and gas industry.

“Only recently, the media space was inundated with allegations that the investigations of the committee were ruffling feathers in the NNPCL, hence the oil regulatory body was making frantic efforts to financially influence the House leadership to achieve the disbandment of the committee. The House Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Group CEO of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari; as well as the CEO of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly stifling the nation’s economic growth due to the oil sector crisis. In our candid opinion, the timing of the committee’s dissolution tends to lend credence to these grievous allegations,” stated Comrade Meliga.

Expressing firm confidence in the Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie-led committee’s capacity and commitment to thoroughly investigate and proffer practicable solutions to the niggling challenges in the nation’s oil and gas sector, the Forum demanded that the committee’s allegations of corruption in the NNPCL must be thoroughly investigated rather than swept under the carpet, adding that the arbitrary dissolution of the committee grossly undermines probity, transparency and accountability within the NNPCL and NMDPRA, as well as the fight against corruption in the country.

Consequently, the Forum further demanded that “a clear and concise explanation by the Honourable Speaker, of the reasons behind the unilateral and arbitrary dissolution of the Joint Committee, in order to dispel mounting allegations of compromise against the leadership of the House in the public domain.

“The immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the Joint Committee, as well as a level playing ground to enable it continue and conclude its investigations into the rot in the nation’s oil and gas sector.”

The group also demanded assurances of government’s protection for whistleblowers within and outside the NNPCL during the probe.

Recall that the House of Representatives ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee was inaugurated two weeks ago, with the mandate to conduct legislative forensic investigation into the nations’ oil and gas sector. Details of the committee’s mandate included investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues. The committee was supposed to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

However, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, on Monday, announced the dissolution of the committee without giving reasons for its action, stating that it would be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.

“Nigeria’s future depends on our collective fight against corruption. The dissolution of the House of Reps ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee by the Honourable Speaker has the capacity to create escape routes for looters of our common patrimony, particularly in a season when Nigerians are protesting against hunger and bad governance in the country. We will not be silenced again by leaders who hold the mandate of the people,” Comrade Meliga stated.