The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Reps

  • Reps Probe NNPCL, Oil Firms Over N432bn NMDPRA Debt

    The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has opened an investigation into outstanding regulatory debts owed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil companies, with liabilities under review put at ₦432.07bn.

    The investigation followed findings in the Auditor-General’s annual audit reports on unpaid petroleum-related obligations accruing to the regulatory authority.

    The Auditor-General’s 2023 Annual Audit Report put the combined indebtedness of NNPCL and oil companies at ₦392.73bn.

    Of the amount, NNPCL accounted for ₦162.46bn, while oil companies operating under the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria and Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria owed ₦230.27bn.

    The liabilities were linked to Balancing Allowance, National Transport Average, the one per cent Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, as well as legacy obligations arising from importation, coastal and credit transactions.

    The Auditor-General’s 2024 report subsequently placed outstanding indebtedness at ₦432.07bn, excluding liabilities attributed to NNPCL.

    Further submissions by the NMDPRA to the committee showed that 146 oil companies operating under DAPPMAN, MEMAN and MOMAN owed the authority ₦327.53bn as of 2025.

    The committee said the outstanding obligations covered several years, with some dating back to 2017, raising concerns over the effectiveness of the mechanisms used by the regulatory authority to assess, collect and recover the funds.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, said the probe was aimed at establishing the facts behind the outstanding liabilities and ensuring that all government revenue due from the affected entities was accounted for and recovered.

    He warned companies and institutions summoned by the committee against failing to appear with the appropriate representatives and relevant records.

    “Any company invited by this committee must respect the people’s parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by honouring the summons with appropriate representation and all relevant documents. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody; our responsibility is to establish the facts, protect public revenue and ensure that every naira due to government is properly accounted for,” Salam said.

    The committee is expected to examine the basis on which the debts were assessed, the periods covered, payments made by the affected companies, outstanding balances and actions taken by the NMDPRA to recover the funds.

    It will also seek explanations on “why liabilities accumulated over a number of years remained outstanding and whether enforcement measures were deployed against defaulting companies.”

    The probe comes amid heightened scrutiny of revenue generation, collection and remittance in Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which overhauled the legal and regulatory framework governing the sector.

    The NMDPRA was established under the PIA to regulate Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. Its responsibilities include the regulation of petroleum product processing, transportation and distribution, domestic gas operations, infrastructure and other activities within the midstream and downstream segments.

    The committee said its inquiry was part of the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibility and was not intended to target any particular company or institution.

    Salam said the lawmakers would require the affected entities and the regulatory authority to account for the outstanding obligations and submit the documentation necessary to determine how the debts arose, what had been recovered and what remained unpaid.

    The committee reaffirmed that it would use its oversight powers to ensure that public revenue was properly accounted for and that agencies responsible for collection took effective steps to recover outstanding liabilities. Punch

  • Reps renew call for declaration of state of emergency on security

    Miffed by the widespread insecurity across the country, particularly the recent killing in Plateau State, the House of Representatives, yesterday, demanded immediate sack of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Minister of Defence, including the indictment of the security agencies.

    It also reaffirmed its call for the declaration of state of emergency on security in the country

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Yusuf Gagdi at plenary yesterday, following the murder of 92 people in Plateau State on April 10.

    He noted that over 20 victims that sustained various degrees of injuries were receiving medication at various hospitals. He said in spite of intelligence reports by the Department of State Service on the influx of terrorists fleeing into Plateau, there was no proactive measure taken to avert the terror attack.

    He claimed security agencies had reliable information at their disposal of the various camps of the terrorists at Kambari forest in Taraba State. He added that they also had information on Bangala in Wase LGA from where the terrorists organised and coordinated attacks.

    In his contribution, Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase, alleged that a security personnel who was supposed to be on duty in Zamfara got a pass and stayed in Plateau for six months supplying uniforms to bandits. He said members would now understand the complicity of the security agencies in the killings, stating that actions needed to be taken against some security agencies. He called on security agencies to do their job, adding that the last time, it was in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, where over 162 were killed.

    He said an early warning signal was given, as identified by the citizens, where bandits coming from Zamfara and Niger to Plateau were reported but nothing was done to forestall it.

    He added that in this case, he did not know what anybody could do not to hold the security agencies responsible.

    “I have written a letter, paid visit to inform the police. As I speak, 42 villages in my constituency are in IDP camps.”

    Bamidele Salam said he watched the massacre of the people of Plateau and it was emotional. “We have come to a situation where people are being killed and no one is held accountable. Things have turned upside down in the last one decade.”

    He said to live in Nigeria was now an unusual privilege, adding that the shocking part was that there were early warning signals that there would be an attack but it was not acted upon.

    “Is it that they feel that some people behind it cannot be touched or are too powerful? It appears that there is an absence of government,” he said

    Fatuhu Muhammed (APC-Katsina) said President Muhammadu Buhari, as chief security officer, should be held responsible for insecurity in the country. He, however, said there was no way such killings would be happening without security information but condemned the attempt of always sweeping it under the carpet.

    “The security agencies come here, present their budget and we allow it pass, there is no oversight function to unravel the truth. I just came back from my state, no security is willing to come out and protect people, we have to give them money. Everybody is important in this battle, though the president should be held responsible,” he said.

    The House, therefore, called for the establishment of a military base and the deployment of troops to the affected areas.

    (Sun)

  • House of Reps adopts direct and indirect primaries

     

    The House of Representatives, yesterday, settled for the version of the recommitted Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the Senate last week, after its initial position not to cave in.

    In the passed amendment, yesterday, provisions which clearly defined the mode of primaries for political parties were stated.

    President Buhari, had rejected the Electoral Act Amendment Bill last December, because the National Assembly made direct primary, the only mode of nominating candidates for elective positions.

    The re-amendment was sequel to a motion on “rescission on clause 84 of the Electoral Act No. 26 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Committal to the Committee of the Whole” sponsored by Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi.

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, after the amendment to the Electoral Bill by the Committee of the Whole, said the re-amendment was done to harmonise its position with that of the House of Representatives.

    He added that the amendment accommodates clearly defined provisions for the mode of primaries by political parties.

    Lawan expressed optimism that the bill would be signed into law when transmitted by the National Assembly to President Buhari for his assent.

    He warned that political parties that fail or refuse to abide by the provisions on the mode of primaries, would miss out on the opportunity to participate during elections.

    “On the mode of conducting primaries by parties to produce candidates, we have concluded our task on the amendment to the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 Bill. You would recall that the Senate and the House passed the Electoral Act amendment Bill with slight difference. While the House passed the mode of primaries to be direct and indirect only, the Senate passed the mode of primaries to be direct, indirect and consensus. What we have done is to give very clear and sufficient definition to each mode of primaries.

    “The direct primaries is well define on how it will be conducted; ditto the indirect primaries. And for the consensus, the two chambers have produced in this Bill, very clear definition of how a consensus candidate would emerge. Therefore, we are very glad that we have been able to achieve this consensus between the two chambers to arrive at this harmonised version, and we are also very optimistic that Mr. President will sign the bill.”

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila at the resumption of plenary, yesterday, said it was imperative for the House, to also include consensus, as a means of nominating candidates in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, so as to avoid the chambers going for conferencing over the proposed legislation.

     

    (Sun)

  • Reps mull 10-year jail term for ponzi scheme operators

     

    The House of Representatives, yesterday, passed for second reading, a bill to repeal the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 and enact the Investments and Securities Act to establish Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    The bill, which seeks to make SEC the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian capital market, prescribes 10-year jail term for ponzi scheme operators, in the country, among others.

    The proposed legislation, which is sponsored by Babangida Ibrahim, also empowers SEC to shut down all illegal investment schemes.

    Ibrahim, in his lead debate, said current trends in the capital market has made the review of the Investments and Securities Act, Act No. 29 of 2007, enacted 14 years ago, imperative.

    He noted that the proposed legislation would make the Nigerian capital market conform with international best practices.According to him, the major essence of the bill are introduction of new provisions to regulate the activities of financial market infrastructure, as well as netting and bankruptcy provisions to protect investors in derivatives contracts.

    Ibrahim said”there are new provisions on the regulation of Financial Market Intermediaries (FMIs) such as Central Counter Parties (CCPs), Clearing Houses, Trade Depositories etc.

    “The general law of insolvency would have no effect on market contracts or action taken under the rules of an exchange, FMI with respect to market contracts, or an action taken to transfer any collateral.

    “Furthermore, no entity, trade association can operate or hold itself out as a Self Regulatory Organization (SRO) unless recognised or registered as such by SEC. The responsibilities of SRO are also well spelt out, while a new provision has been introduced on netting of financial contracts.”

    He added: “We are enhancing provisions relating to efficient regulation of investment scheme. Recently there is a lot of complaints by Nigerians to the extent the Federal Government itself put some embargo on some accounts on Ponzi schemes. So as of the time of signing the current account, the ponzi scheme was not in existence in Nigeria. So we have to put some regulations to monitor them.”

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Reps issue bench warrant on Emefiele and 53 others for violation of FRC

     

    A report by a committee of the House of Representatives has recommended the arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emiefele, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Mele Kyari and 52 other heads of government agencies for gross violation of the provisions of the Financial Regulatory Council on rendition of audited account.

     

     

    The report also recommended that past and present Chief Executive Officers of several government agencies and their Directors of Finance and Account should be handed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

     

    The 161-page report submitted to the House by its Committee on Public Accounts also indicted all subsidiaries of the NNPC, including the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Pipeline and Products Marketing Company Limited, West Africa Gas Limited, Nigerian Gas Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and National Petroleum Investment & Management Services (NAPIMS).

     

    Also included on the list are Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Abuja, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, National Bureau of Statistics, and Niger Delta Power Holding Company (National Integrated Power Project).

     

    The report also recommend that all Accounting Officers of the 54 government agencies that refused to appear before the House Committee to defend their positions should be issued warrant of arrest to compel their appearance to respond to the matter within a week in line with Section 89 (d) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

     

    Read Also: Reps approve Buhari’s $8b, €490 loan requests

    The report was supposed to have been considered before the House embarked on its summer vacation, but was stepped down along with other reports as a result of the controversy arising from the consideration of the Electoral Act amendment bill.

     

    The report accused the management of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of “recklessly and deliberately” refusing to render their audited accounts from 2005 to 2019 in violation of Section 85 (3) (b) of the 1999 Constitution and recommend that “all those in Office that were responsible should be disciplined and referred to the EFCC in line with Financial Regulation 3129 of 2009”.

     

    Also recommended to face the EFCC are all the Director-Generals and DFAs as well as the various External Auditors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) from 2006 to 2019 for refusing to render the audited accounts for the last 13 years.

     

    The report recommended that the Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the University of Calabar, Nigeria Communication Satellite (NigComSat), the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (including the former Vice Chancellor), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Federal Housing Authority, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria among others should face the EFCC for investigation and prosecution.

     

    The report is the outcome of an investigation into the allegation of deliberate and refusal by Non-Treasury funded Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to remit audited accounts covering 2014 – 2018 to the Auditor General for the Federation ordered by the House following a motion by the Deputy Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Abdullahi Sa’ad Abdulkadir and 44 others.

     

    The investigation was to identify the Chief Executive Officers of these Agencies, whether in active service or retired, found to have violated the provisions of section 85(2)(3) and (4) of 1999 Nigeria Constitution and hold them liable for their actions.

     

    The report said 300 MDAs were invited to appear before the committee, out of which about 54 refused to appear to defend their positions.

     

    On the National Health Insurance Scheme, the report said: “the NHIS has not rendered its audited accounts for past 13 years.

     

     

     

     

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    “The Executive Secretary of the Scheme lamented that this was due to frequent turnover of chief executive officers of the Scheme which become so difficult to keep financial records of the Scheme and dissolution of its governing councils by succeeding governments over the years.

     

    “He said the audited accounts for 2014 and 2015 had been signed and given to the External Auditors for onward transmission to the office of the auditor general while 2016 to 2018 are at final stage of completion.

     

    “The committee frowned at the Management of the Scheme for the non- rendition of their audited accounts over the past 13 years which is a total violation of the financial regulations and the Constitution. The Committee directed NHIS to furnish its procurement process and give written reasons for the delay which is still being awaited”.

     

    It frowned at the delay by the Bureau for Public Procurement in granting the Nigeria Customs Service permission to hire an external auditor to audit its account.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Investigation Into Ataga’s death

    Investigation Into Ataga’s death

     

    The House of Representatives, yesterday, cautioned the Nigeria Police to ensure that Ms Chidimma Ojukwu, who is being held in connection with the death of late Usifo Ataga, does not die in their custody.

    The House also urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder incident and refrain from parading “Ms. Chidinma around to grant interviews” on a matter under investigation.

     

     

    The Green Chamber also urged the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Usman Baba, to caution all police personnel against violation of the rights of suspects through media trials, so as not to compromise cases in law courts.

     

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Tolu Akande-Sadipe, calling for compliance of the police force with extant laws in the investigation into the death of late Ataga.

     

    Akande-Sadipe, in a motion, informed the House that Ms Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was arrested on June 23, 2021, over the murder of Ataga, who was until his death, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, in a service apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

     

    The lawmaker noted that since her arrest, the suspect has been paraded around, granting interviews to several news platforms, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

     

    She added that owing to the parade, the internet and news media has been agog with the discussion about the incident, even when investigation is still ongoing.

     

    She said: “The law of Nigeria does not allow for social media trials, and matters that are subjudice (meaning before the court or not yet judicially decided) are not to be discussed by the media.

     

    “Cognisant that Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty.

     

    Thus, so long as Ms. Ojukwu has not been proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, she is not to be labeled a criminal, or paraded about to conduct a series of interviews on a case currently under investigation.

     

    “Rather, the police are to conduct a proper investigation and allow the court to consider the matter and make an informed judgment.”

     

    Akande-Sadipe expressed concern “that if Ms. Ojukwu continues to be paraded about for a social media trial, it could affect the determination and outcome of the case, as well as amount to a breach of her fundamental right to fair hearing, especially where she is labeled or treate d as one guilty of a crime.”

     

     

     

     

    • Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • House Of Reps approve N2.3tn fresh loan for Buhari, Opposition disapproves

     

    Members of the minority caucus in the House of Representatives, on Thursday, declined to participate in the consideration and adoption of the report by the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management chaired by Ahmed Safana.

     

    The report was on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government to fund the 2021 budget, for which the President, Major General Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), sought National Assembly’s approval.

    Safana had prayed the House to accept the report on Buhari’s request for the implementation of the new external borrowing of N2.34tn (about $6.18bn) in the 2021 Appropriation Act through the issuance of Eurobond in the international capital market.

     

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, called on the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, to second the prayer by Safana, which he declined.

     

    Elumelu said, “Bearing in mind that I do not agree that we take any loan, I decline to second. I do not agree to any further (more) loan. I therefore decline to second.”

     

    Gbajabiamila then asked the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, to second the prayer.

     

    However, Okechukwu said, “I don’t not think it is prudent on my part to go against what my leader declined to.”

     

     

     

    The Speaker said, “Honourable Elumelu, Honourable Toby, I will take it that you don’t want your budget implemented.

     

    “In fact, you were part of the passage of the budget of 2021. Were you not? The MTEF of 2021 which was a precursor to the budget, you were part of it.  If you were not there, you are indicting yourself.”

     

    Responding, the Minority Leader said he was away in his constituency to attend to his people who were under attacks.

     

    Read Also

    LCCI, ACCI, others raise concerns as Buhari seeks nod for fresh $6.1bn loan

    Buhari seeks Senate approval for fresh N2.3trn external loan

    Reps pass revised budget, approve Buhari’s $5.5bn loan

    Gbajabiamila, however, asked why Elumelu was not in the chamber when there was critical legislation like the budget to represent his constituency.

     

    He asked, “Are you saying to your constituents who sent you here that something so important that they asked you to come and do, you were not here? I want you to repeat it to their hearing.”

     

    The Speaker also called on another opposition Peoples Democratic Party member, Lynda Ikpeazu, who also declined to second the prayer.

     

    Gbajabiamila asked a member who was doing his job as a representative to volunteer. Babajimi Benson of the All Progressives Congress eventually seconded the laying of the report.

     

    Meanwhile, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has forwarded the 2022-2024 Medium Time Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.

     

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, read the cover letter on the MTEF/FSP at the plenary on Thursday.

     

    Gbajabiamila referred the MTEF/ FSP to the House Committee on Finance.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • NNPC Accused of illegally Deducting N1.3tn, Must Give Account -House Of Reps

     

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has stated that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation must account for the alleged illegal withdrawals from the Federation Account in 2017, totaling N1.3tn.

     

    Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke (PDP-OSUN), stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the committee’s investigative hearing on audit queries issued by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation against ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government.

     

     

    The committee had grilled the representative of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ezeh Ekwueme, who appeared before the panel to explain the unauthorised deductions from Federation Account by revenue-generating agencies in the year under review.

     

    Oke stated that it was improper for the NNPC to take the monies without being queried by the appropriate agencies.

     

    He said, “They just take the money and nobody to ask questions. Even the Accountant General of the Federation cannot ask questions. NNPC has to account for the money. Aside illegally taking the money, which violates Section 162 of the constitution, they should render an account. What did they do with the money?”

     

     

    The committee also queried the accountant-general over the lack of full details on the aids and grants released to agencies, amounting to N6.6bn in the same year.

     

    Consequently, the lawmakers asked the accountant-general to provide a comprehensive list of beneficiaries of the donations.

     

    Oke also directed the clerk to write to the beneficiaries to forward briefs of the aides and grants and what they were used for, based on the queries issued by the AUGF and the response by the ACGF.

     

    The committee had on Thursday grilled top officials of the NNPC, warning the corporation against deducting from revenue from sales of petroleum products before remitting same to the Federation Account, threatening punitive action if the action was repeated.

     

     

    The committee had summoned the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, as well as the head of the corporation’s subsidiaries.

     

    One of the queries against the NNPC is alleging under remittance of revenue from domestic crude oil sales totalling N3.878tn.

     

    The OAUGF issued another other query against the NNPC bothering on the non-collection of miscellaneous gas receipts for some months in 2015, asking the corporation to refund N450bn to the Federation Account; another refund of N1.8tn as well as unpaid gas revenue without details worth $198,919,212.27 (N37,189,084,819.19).

     

    Kyari is particularly expected to respond to the audit query on “payment through Nigeria Gas Limited Funding Account $30,963,894.01 (N16,099,887,119.77) as well as misapplication of Joint Venture Cash Calls for other purposes, $292,094,405.82 and N2,474,295,000.

     

    Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, gave the directive when the management of the NNPC appeared before it to defend a series of audit queries.

     

    On Thursday, the committee asked the corporation to account for unremitted gas revenue of about $228.9m and another N3.878tn from the sale of domestic crude.

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com