Reps Threaten to Sanction Customs, Immigration Bosses Over Snub
By Mercy Adi
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise expressed disappointment on Monday over the absence of key government agency heads at an investigative hearing. The hearing aimed to probe the concession of the e-customs project to the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and Webb Fontaine’s role in the e-customs framework.
Lawmakers criticized the absence, citing Section 88 of the constitution, which empowers parliament to invite individuals to provide explanations. “Section 88 of the constitution gives us the power to invite any individual to appear before us to offer explanations,” said Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), a member of the Committee. “In this instance, only the Chief Executives of the agencies are to appear before the parliament”.
The Committee had invited the Minister of Interior, Comptroller General of Customs, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other stakeholders to the hearing. However, while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, was absent due to being out of the country, no reason was given for the absence of the Customs boss and his Immigration counterpart.
Another member of the Committee, Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), deemed the refusal of the agency heads an affront to the parliament. “If they refuse to show up on the next adjourned date, the Committee and the parliament should invoke its powers and recommend their removal from office,” Abiante said. “Their refusal to honor parliamentary invitation would mean that they are either tired of the job or incompetent to carry out their assigned duties”.
The Committee plans to investigate the concession of customs operations to the Trade Modernisation Project and Webb Fontaine’s continued involvement in the e-customs process.
