The House Representatives ad hoc committee probing the various contracts awarded by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) from 2010 to 2014, on Thursday, threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of 13 contractors for failing to appear before it in relation to the public investigation of rail contracts awarded by the federal government.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinman (PDP-Edo), issued the threat after it became apparent that the affected 13 contractors were absent at the investigative hearing which began on Thursday.
He said that there was no reason why the contractors should fail to appear before the committee when they were duly invited in writing to appear and shed light whether the contracts were awarded in line with the Public Procurement Act.
Hon. Agbonayinman expressed displeasure that out of 23 contractors invited by the ad hoc committee, only seven were present at the hearing, declaring that the committee will be left with no other choice than to exercise its legislative powers by issuing a bench warrant for their arrest.
“There is no reason why these contractors should not be here. Only seven companies are properly represented, while the 13 others are not here. This is unacceptable.
“The former Managing Director of NRC promised to produce the contractors and you (acting MD) were there when this promise was made. They are holding us back in doing our job.
“These are contractors you gave jobs, I think we will issue a bench warrant on these contractors. We will not accept this anymore”, he said.
The chairman explained that the ad hoc committee was set up to probe the contract awarded from 2010 and 2014 by the NRC, adding that the essence of the investigative hearing was to ensure that the process of the award of the contracts met guidelines stipulated in the Public Procurement Act.
Also, Hon. Agbonayinman said the committee wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to appear before it, but rather said they got a reply that he will not be present while failing to send a representative.
However, the Acting Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhirca pleaded with the committee to give the contractors more time to appear before the committee.
He admitted that it was difficult for him to force them to appear before the committee, especially now that they were no longer handling any project for the corporation.
Credit: Daily Timesouse Representatives ad hoc committee probing the various contracts awarded by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) from 2010 to 2014, on Thursday, threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of 13 contractors for failing to appear before it in relation to the public investigation of rail contracts awarded by the federal government.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinman (PDP-Edo), issued the threat after it became apparent that the affected 13 contractors were absent at the investigative hearing which began on Thursday.
He said that there was no reason why the contractors should fail to appear before the committee when they were duly invited in writing to appear and shed light whether the contracts were awarded in line with the Public Procurement Act.
Hon. Agbonayinman expressed displeasure that out of 23 contractors invited by the ad hoc committee, only seven were present at the hearing, declaring that the committee will be left with no other choice than to exercise its legislative powers by issuing a bench warrant for their arrest.
“There is no reason why these contractors should not be here. Only seven companies are properly represented, while the 13 others are not here. This is unacceptable.
“The former Managing Director of NRC promised to produce the contractors and you (acting MD) were there when this promise was made. They are holding us back in doing our job.
“These are contractors you gave jobs, I think we will issue a bench warrant on these contractors. We will not accept this anymore”, he said.
The chairman explained that the ad hoc committee was set up to probe the contract awarded from 2010 and 2014 by the NRC, adding that the essence of the investigative hearing was to ensure that the process of the award of the contracts met guidelines stipulated in the Public Procurement Act.
Also, Hon. Agbonayinman said the committee wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to appear before it, but rather said they got a reply that he will not be present while failing to send a representative.
However, the Acting Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhirca pleaded with the committee to give the contractors more time to appear before the committee.
He admitted that it was difficult for him to force them to appear before the committee, especially now that they were no longer handling any project for the corporation.
Credit: Daily Times
No comments:
Post a Comment