… as probe into Chinese loans suffer setback
The speaker of the House of Representatives has ordered that all investigations, public hearings, commiitee meetings and activities of standing as well as ad hoc committees should be suspended until resumption in September.
A letter from the House leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa dated 19th August, 2020 and addressed to all committee ordered a stop to all activities.
This order is coming on the heels of the investigation of the House committee on treaties, agreements and protocols of the review and implementation programme of all existing bilateral loan agreements between Nigeria and the Chinese Export-Import Bank and other loans sourced from China to finance the Lagos-Ibadan rail line and other projects.
The letter titled: ” Notice of suspension of activities, meetings, public hearings and all engagements of the standing and ad hoc committees” with reference number NASS9HR/OLDR/ADM/Vol. 1. 0031″ urged the clerk of the House to ensure compliance.
The letter signed by Alhassan Ad Doguwa said “the leadership of the House of Representatives has recently met and resolved that henceforth all activities of standing and ad hoc committees be put on hold while the Houae is on its annual recess.
“Accordingly, all standing and ad hoc committees are hereby directed to suspend with immediate effect all committee meetings, public hearings and other engagements until the House resumes its annual recess”
No reason was however given for the sudden directive to suspend all committee activities in a letter addressed to chairmen and ad hoc and standing commuttees.
Recall that apart from the probe into Chinese loans for the execution of railway projects in the country, the House committee on finance is reviewing the 2021 to 2023 medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and the Fidcal Strategy Paper (FSP) and investigation of N300 bn unpermitted funds to the federal account by various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Similarly, the Houae public accounts committee led by Hon. Wole Oke has been investigating MDAs over queries raised by the Account General of the Federation.
Only on Wednesday, the treaties, agreements and protocols committee led by Hon. Ossai Ossai summoned the ministers of justice and Attorney General of the Federation Mallam Abubakar Malami and that of finance, budget and National planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed to appear before it next Tuesday over the Chinese loans.
At the sitting of the committee last Monday, the minister if transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the committee chairman, Ossai had a heated argument leading to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila intervening and calling for a break.
So with the above circulated letter, the probe on 500 billikn dollar Chinese loans, $33bn commercial contracts uncovered by the committee on Treaties without clear cut financing arrangements will eventually not see the light of the day
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