[ad_1]
The House of Reps yesterday waded into the ongoing controversy amongst the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Intels Nigeria Restricted.
The Home, even though adopting a movement by Rep Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa), resolved to represent an advert hoc panel to probe the instances that led to NPA’s final decision to terminate an present agreement amongst it and Intels.
The committee is to verify if because of approach was adopted in the termination of the agreement and other related issues. It has two weeks to submit its report.
The Property mentioned NPA should reverse the termination of the agreement with Intels, pending the final result of the investigation.
The movement brought about severe division among the the lawmakers, with a amount of them opposing it. But it scaled by in the end.
Douye explained the settlement provided the building and procedure of Apapa, Warri, Federal Ocean Terminal Port and Onne in Port Harcourt, which he reported Intels put in $900 million on.
Having said that, he explained, NPA terminated the agreement in a letter to the Attorney Standard of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), on September 27, indicating the motion was based mostly on an alleged illegality of the agreement.
The action, the lawmaker stated, has adverse effects on the Nigerians performing at Intels and their dependents.
In supporting the motion, Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo), stated the Residence have to intervene in the make a difference as Intels employees ended up previously protesting at the ports.
Likewise, other lawmakers these as Hassan Saleh (APC, Benue), Simon Arabo (PDP, Kaduna) supported the motion.
But opposing the movement, Rep Rotimi Agunsoye (APC, Lagos) claimed the Property really should leave the make any difference for the judiciary to make a decision, calling on Intels to go to court docket.
Also, Rep Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina) mentioned there appeared to be monopoly on the portion of Intels as all other competitive firms folded up after the agreement was signed.
“Intels as we see these days is not even owned by Nigerians. The ownership structure of the business is purely overseas, but they use Nigerians as fronts and killed many indigenous businesses running in the very same market,” he said.
Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano), reported Intels’ refusal to shell out the gathered income to the govt coffers through the Treasury One Account (TSA) went opposite to Portion 81 of the structure which offers that “all revenues or other monies built on behalf of government shall be paid out to an account identified as the Consolidated Profits Account of the Federation.”
But Speaker Yakubu Dogara responded by indicating there is nowhere in the environment that monopoly is an offence, stating “some corporations are better carried out in a monopolistic atmosphere.”
[Daily Trust]
[ad_2]
Supply link