The House of Representatives committees on Anti-Corruption and Public Service Matters, on Tuesday, condemned the heads of the federal agencies for failing to honour its invitation to an investigative hearing on the high level of corruption on nominal rolls of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The joint committee was furious that none of the heads of the agencies was present at its investigative hearing pertaining to corruption in the MDAs.
Consequently, the lawmakers have summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and heads of MDAs for failing to honour the invitation to an investigative hearing.
Those summoned include the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, The Head of the Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and the Auditor General for the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu.
Others are the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Bolaji Owasanoye, the Chief Executive Officer, Federal Character Commission, Muheeba Dankaka among others.
Deputy chairman of the Committee on Anti-Corruption, Dachung Bagos vowed that the joint committee will not hesitate to take further action if the heads of agencies fail to heed the summons.
The House of Representatives had in 2020, passed for second reading, a bill seeking a fine of N500,000 or two years imprisonment or both for anyone who ignores the summon of the National Assembly.
The legislation titled: ‘Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and for Related Matters (HB. 511)’, was sponsored by the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabimila, and the Chairman, Rules and Business, Hon. Abubakar Fulata.
Presenting the bill, Fulata said Section 89 states that anybody who is summoned by the parliament and refuses to appear would be issued a warrant of arrest and be compelled to appear.
He said the bill seeks to alter the provision to state that anyone who refuses or ignores the summon of the parliament shall be convicted or guilty of contempt, and shall be liable to a fine of N500,000 or two years imprisonment or both.
The bill was then referred to the Special House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative actions.