…House panel unhappy with PRODA for shunning invitation
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has reiterated the determination of the 9th House to succeed in its mandate of passing laws for good governance with the active participation of Nigerians in the process.
According to him, the only way to achieve this is for the House to ensure that resolutions and bills passed by it reflect the true yearnings of the people.
Speaker Gbajabiamila spoke on Thursday at the National Assembly while declaring open an investigative hearing on unwholesome practices and abuse of power by the Leadership of Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu. It was organised by the House Committee on Public Procurement.
He noted that the process of good governance could not be divorced from the full participation of the people.
Represented by the Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the Speaker expressed confidence that the day’s deliberations would lead to practical suggestions that would ensure that our laws are more reliable to protect the rights of Nigerian workers.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Nassir Ali Ahmed, said the investigation was to ensure a fair hearing for all the parties involved and to enable the House to make a decision from an informed position.
He stated that the responsibility of the House was to ensure that justice was not only done, but seen to have been done.
On his part, Rep. Henry Nwawuba, who sponsored the motion that led to the public hearing, assured that the committee would be thorough in its duty by producing a report that would put to an end the alleged intimidation at PRODA in particular and all public and private organisations where Nigerians were employed in the country.
However, the committee expressed disappointment over the failure of the entire management of PRODA to honour the invitation to attend the hearing.
The committee particularly frowned on the prevention of PRODA’s Chief Accounting Officer from attending the hearing by the organisation’s acting director.
According to the chairman, the chief accounting officer was expected at the hearing to shed more light on the issues at stake at the agency.
The committee observed that rather than appear, the officer sent in a letter stating why he could not make it to the hearing, despite having concluded all travelling arrangements to attend the session.
The committee expressed disappointment over the attitude of the acting director and the management of PRODA over their disregard for the House by refusing to honour the invitation.
“However, we assure all Nigerians that the House of Representatives is determined, more than ever to ensure that Nigerians are no longer disenfranchised.
“This will be attained through the instrumentality of strengthening the relevant labour laws,” Ahmed said.