The Commissioner for Waterfront, Arch. Kabiru Abdullahi has been summoned by the Lagos State House of Assembly for refusal to avail its committee on a mid-year review assessment, the required information about his Ministerial activities.
The summon was issued by the house having listened to a personal report by the Chairman of the Committee on Waterfront, Hon. Jimoh Wahab at plenary on Tuesday.
Hon. Wahab flays the untoward conduct of the Commissioner, whom he reported had refused overtime to honour invitations extended to him by the Committee.
He said the commissioner had been invited severally to provide some clarifications over his ministerial activities but did not show up till now.
According to the chairman, the commissioner is making the assignment difficult for the committee.
Wahab noted that his ministry is yet to submit documents for the ongoing budget mid-year review.
He, therefore, requested that the house iimbue the committee the privilege of carrying out an investigation on the activities of the commissioner and the ministry since his assumption of office.
“I want to bring the unacceptable conduct of the Commissioner for Waterfront before the house.
“Severally, the committee has invited him for some clarification over his ministerial activity but he is yet to show up.
“He is making the assignment of the committee so difficult.
“As you all know, The mid-year budget review is going on and as of present, the required document has not been submitted to the committee.
“I would implore the house to give the committee the privilege to carry out an investigation on the activities of the commissioner and the ministry since his assumption of office.” He said.
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Hon. Bisi Yusuf who represents Alimosho Constituency 1 lending a voice on the matter stated that it is not good for those who came to the house for confirmation to become overlords thereafter.
Yusuf, therefore, prayed that the committee should be given the necessary wherewithal to ensure that the right thing is done and to avoid indiscriminate desecration of the house constitutional powers.
“It is not good for those who come to the house to obtain confirmation become overlords thereafter.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun described the commissioner’s act as an aberration, unacceptable and prejudice to the constitution.
He, therefore, pleaded the house to allow the committee to invite him for questioning.
“If what Hon Wahab said is the truth, I think it is an aberration, unacceptable and prejudice to the constitution.
“I want to plead that the house allow the Committee to invite him again.” Tobun said.
Hon. Victor Akande, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions & LASIEC in summation noted that there is no ambiguity in the constitution regarding the powers of the house, towards oversight functions as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He prayed that the appropriate sections be invoked to summon the Commissioner for questioning.
“There is no ambiguity in the constitution sections 128 and 129 regarding the powers of the house towards oversight functions.
“We should invoke sections in the constitution to summon the commissioner for questioning ” He said.
In his ruling, The Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa appealed to the House to give the Commissioner till Thursday to present before the committee all the necessary documents on his ministerial activities.
“I want to appeal to the chairman of the committee and his members to sheathe their swords and avail him another chance to appear before the committee on unfailingly by Thursday.
“He should come with all the necessary documents.” He said.
Obasa thereafter directed the Clerk of the house Barrister Olalekan Onafeko to write the Commissioner through the committee to appear before it .
The house also entertained the reading of two Bill’s for the first time this includes : the Lagos State Electric Bill and Office of the Public Defender Amendment Bill.
The report on Victim Assistance and Witness protection Bill was delivered by Hon.Victor Akande.
