Failure of the NIMASA boss to attend the committee’s investigative hearing adds to the growing list of government officials disrespecting parliament
The House of Representatives Committee on federal character has summoned Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
This was handed down to the DG NIMASA for failing to attend an investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.
The committee chairman, Rep. Idris Wase (APC Plateau), expressed dissatisfaction with Mobereola’s absence and refused to accept the appearance of his representative, a director of administration and human resources.
Wase said the DG had not shown regard for the committee and demanded that he must appear in person before the committee on the 30th of July 2024.
Citing constitutional requirement, Wase said: “This is considered provision in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and I take you straight to 8-1, it says, in the 3rd Schedule, in giving effect to Section 14, 3-D and 4-D, a portion I just address to you of this Constitution, the committee shall have the power to walk out an executive subject to the approval of the National Assembly for the prosecution of all cadres of force in the public service of the federation and of the state.
“These are constitutional provisions guid our own work.It is a constitutional committee, and it may interest you to know that every state or federation is represented by at least one person. So we are about 70, and I believe because of the enormity of the work going on, that’s why members are not sitting. And very soon they will begin to come in, in their numbers.”
Wase criticized Mobereola for not personally signing the communication requesting his representation, interpreting it as a lack of respect for the committee.
“The chief executive is not here. He has sent in communication to us to ask the question that the Director of Administration of Human Resources be allowed to represent him because of other official engagement.
“There are some questions that we may ask that the representative may not be able to give. So I think it’s better we make sure that the chief executives is here before us. We agree to let you know that we’re stepping down your appearance as of today, and then we shall communicate also the next day for this appearance. And we expect him to appear personally.
“I think part of my resolution, he has said he has respect for us. It’s a committee that is constitutional.But he didn’t even have the opportunity and time to write a letter and sign for us personally. He has to ask somebody to sign on his behalf. In an era of doing things and disobeying things that we have not done, I think if he really means the words he’s saying, maybe he would have signed that letter personally.”
