The Senate issued a final notice of appearance to the Total Energies MD, Matthieu Bouyer.
The managing director of Total Energies, Matthieu Bouyer, has been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas Host Communities.
This is as the committee issued a final notice of appearance to the MD contained in a statement released to journalists at the National Assembly by the chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Benson Agadaga on Monday.
The Committee was also disappointed in Bouyer for turning down its earlier requests to communicate with it regarding issues about the implementation challenges of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the urgent need to resolve host community complaints as well as the oil company’s operational procedures.
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Committee members bemoaned the fact that some oil companies now constantly send delegates to meetings with legislative panels instead of showing up in person. They said that this practice was against democratic conventions and the public service spirit because the issues at hand required the chief executives to physically appear and speak for themselves, not through proxies.
The committee, on the other hand, recommended that the Bouyer reevaluate his stance and accept the invitation otherwise, the public mistrust would only grow, endangering the country’s progress as a whole.
Part of the statement read, “The ramifications of this refusal extend far beyond the confines of bureaucratic indifference. It signals a dangerous precedent where those in the country’s vital oil and gas sector shirk their responsibilities with impunity. Such actions breed distrust and disillusionment among citizens who rightfully expect the companies to uphold the highest standards of governance and accountability.
“The Senate Committee calls upon the MD and indeed others in similar position to reconsider their stance and honour the invitation to appear before the committee. Failure to do so will only deepen public mistrust and fuel the flames of discontent that threaten to engulf our nation’s progress. Nigeria deserves better.”
