Amaechi Inaugurates 11-man Panel to Probe Hadiza, Says Nothing Wrong to Know What is Happening in NPA
Pic 3 Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi briefing State House Correspondnts after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday (2/1/18) 0015/2/1/2018/Callistus Ewelike/NAN
*Block your ears on noise against probe, Saraka tells panel members
By Onyinye Apeh
An 11-member panel was Monday inaugurated to investigate the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) between 2016 to 2020, with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that there is nothing wrong in the ministry trying to find out what is happening in any agency under its supervision.
It would be recalled that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman was on Thursday last week suspended from office over allegations of wrongdoings.
The President according to a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr Grba Shehu, had approved that she should be probed by a panel to be constituted by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi while inaugurating the committee on Monday urged the members to do a thorough job.
The terms of reference were read to the Committee as follow:
”Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and presidential directives;
“Examine and investigate compliance with communication channels , as obtained in the public service;
“Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date and come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of the NPA and forestall such occurrences in future;
“And any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.” .
The Transport Minister explained that the investigation was part of the powers of the Ministry to oversee the activities of all agencies under it.
He said, “This is in the discharge of our responsibility as a ministry and I don’t see why anybody is complaining.
“What is wrong in looking at what is happening in NPA? I don’t see what is wrong in that. As the Minister of Transportation for four years, I hardly know what is happening and I want to know now. The president agrees with me that it’s my responsibility as minister to find out what is going on.
“It worries me that people are saying we should not ask questions. Nobody has been indicted. It is just, can we know what is going on in NPA? That’s the question. If everything is right, why do we have to bother at the end of the day?
“When you have completed your assignment, we will be glad to pass on the report to the President, but don’t forget your assignment will include activities of procurement and its processes from 2016 till date.
“And that is why you do not have a time limit. So, it will take you some time. You are not auditing, but to find out the processes. Please be diligent, invite anybody you want to invite, including the minister, if there are infractions you need me to clarify”.
Amaechi while commending the Minister of State for Transport, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, for her diligence on the issue said interested public on the matter should allow the ministry to carry out its statutory job.
He said, “Let us reduce the shouting and allow the committee to do their job. Then, we will come out with a report, which we will avail to the public after it is being passed to the President”.
Saraki in her reaction said she was surprised about the reaction on the probe of Hadiza, arguing that it was within the powers of the Ministry.
She said, “This is why the ministry supervises and part of that role is looking, asking questions and ensuring that things are done in due process.
“For the panel, there is so much noise, so it’s best you block your ears, keep your head down and do what is in the interest of the entire country.”
Chairman of the committee, Mr Suleiman Auwalu, Director of Maritime Services of the ministry of Transportation in his speech said the committee was committed to doing the job assigned it.
He said, “I assure you that we are going to work; we are going to be honest and fair in the discharge of this responsibility. At the end of the day, we want to turn up a report that will be true and it will be in the interest of the country. So, we are seeking for God’s guidance for us to do the right thing at the right time.”
By Onyinye Apeh
An 11-member panel was Monday inaugurated to investigate the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) between 2016 to 2020, with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that there is nothing wrong in the ministry trying to find out what is happening in any agency under its supervision.
It would be recalled that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman was on Thursday last week suspended from office over allegations of wrongdoings.
The President according to a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr Grba Shehu, had approved that she should be probed by a panel to be constituted by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi while inaugurating the committee on Monday urged the members to do a thorough job.
The terms of reference were read to the Committee as follow:
”Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and presidential directives;
“Examine and investigate compliance with communication channels , as obtained in the public service;
“Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date and come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of the NPA and forestall such occurrences in future;
“And any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.” .
The Transport Minister explained that the investigation was part of the powers of the Ministry to oversee the activities of all agencies under it.
He said, “This is in the discharge of our responsibility as a ministry and I don’t see why anybody is complaining.
“What is wrong in looking at what is happening in NPA? I don’t see what is wrong in that. As the Minister of Transportation for four years, I hardly know what is happening and I want to know now. The president agrees with me that it’s my responsibility as minister to find out what is going on.
“It worries me that people are saying we should not ask questions. Nobody has been indicted. It is just, can we know what is going on in NPA? That’s the question. If everything is right, why do we have to bother at the end of the day?
“When you have completed your assignment, we will be glad to pass on the report to the President, but don’t forget your assignment will include activities of procurement and its processes from 2016 till date.
“And that is why you do not have a time limit. So, it will take you some time. You are not auditing, but to find out the processes. Please be diligent, invite anybody you want to invite, including the minister, if there are infractions you need me to clarify”.
Amaechi while commending the Minister of State for Transport, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, for her diligence on the issue said interested public on the matter should allow the ministry to carry out its statutory job.
He said, “Let us reduce the shouting and allow the committee to do their job. Then, we will come out with a report, which we will avail to the public after it is being passed to the President”.
Saraki in her reaction said she was surprised about the reaction on the probe of Hadiza, arguing that it was within the powers of the Ministry.
She said, “This is why the ministry supervises and part of that role is looking, asking questions and ensuring that things are done in due process.
“For the panel, there is so much noise, so it’s best you block your ears, keep your head down and do what is in the interest of the entire country.”
Chairman of the committee, Mr Suleiman Auwalu, Director of Maritime Services of the ministry of Transportation in his speech said the committee was committed to doing the job assigned it.
He said, “I assure you that we are going to work; we are going to be honest and fair in the discharge of this responsibility. At the end of the day, we want to turn up a report that will be true and it will be in the interest of the country. So, we are seeking for God’s guidance for us to do the right thing at the right time.”
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