Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
The 26-member Ad-hoc Committee, set up to investigate all transactions in the oil industry from May 1999 to date, has adopted guidelines to carry out the assignment with assurance that proceedings of the panel would be beamed live to Nigerian homes.
The 26-member Ad-hoc Committee, set up to investigate all transactions in the oil industry from May 1999 to date, has adopted guidelines to carry out the assignment with assurance that proceedings of the panel would be beamed live to Nigerian homes.
Unfolding the guidelines yesterday at a briefing, Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Igo Aguma, said the decision to allow for live coverage of the public hearing was to give Nigerians the opportunity to see themselves what transpired in the sector under the period of review.
'All things being equal, we will ensure that the public hearing is covered live by television houses. Covering it live, I want to let the people know that, will further challenge the committee to work harder and do our home work thoroughly," Agoma said.
Unveiling the programmes of the committee, Agoma, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Gas Resources, said memoranda have been pouring in to the secretariat of the committee, following the advertisement in the media.
According to him, the data received would be analyzed, from where questions would be raised and extensive research carried out.
'We are already in the precinct of the assignment given us by the leadership of the House. We will work based on the input arising from the memos sent to us by Nigerians, we will marry them with intelligence sources to carry out a thorough job and we are going to engage reputable consultants with international reputation to assist us," he declared.
Aguma, therefore, enjoined the management and staffers of all agencies and organizations that would be invited to be guided by the principles of full disclosures on public assets and liabilities, as well as adherence to the relevant laws that provide security for all forms of public property.
He said that the advice became imperative because it was compulsory for the committee to examine all necessary records of transactions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its subsidiaries, as well as the records of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other related organizations in the industry.
The investigation would also cover the Joint Ventures with multi national companies.
Also, he assured that the Committee would not deviate from its terms of reference and shall not encourage acts of indolence and disregard in the level of response to enquiries in the course of the investigation.
With a promise that the work of the committee will be guided by the zeal to chart a new and positive corporate social responsibility for Nigerians, Aguma charged all stakeholders and members of the public to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the investigation panel to assist in salvaging the oil sector and make the economy stronger.
On whether the committee will summon former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who doubled as Minister of Petroleum, Aguma said that such would be determined by the information at the disposal of the committee.
'One thing I want to let the people know is that the former president has never shown any disrespect to the National Assembly. Inviting him or any body is no big deal. We can invite the former Speaker of the House, Aminu Masari, his deputy, Austin Opara and even the present speaker can be invited," he said.
The ad-hoc committee was set up by the House Resolution of April 22nd, 2008 to carry out a comprehensive study of all transactions in the nation's oil industry from May 1999 to date.