Reps Panel Summons NIMASA DG For Shunning Invitation

House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has summoned the director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola.

This followed his failure to appear before the committee for an investigative hearing after being duly invited.

The chairman of the committee, Hon. Idris Wase, who expressed displeasure over his absence at the hearing at the National Assembly Complex, rejected Mobereola’s representative.

Mobereola had sent the director of administration and human resources, Osembi Osigche, to represent him at the session.

Wase said the director-general had not shown regard for the committee and demanded that the he must appear in person before the panel on July 30, 2024.

“This is considered a 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.

“The chief executive is not here. He has communicated to us to ask the question that the director of administration of human resources, Mr. Osembi Osigche, be allowed to represent him because of other official engagements.

“There are some questions that we may ask that the representative may not be able to answer. So, I think we should make sure that the chief executives are 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 is 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. 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 means his words, maybe he would have signed that letter personally.”