NNPC CHALLENGES SENATE’S LEGALITY TO SUMMON INSTITUTION.
Written by AIGBOKHAEBHO OKHUELEIGBE on September 14, 2022
The Senate on Wednesday clashed with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited over the legal basis to continue to appear before the Red Chamber since the enactment of the Petroleum Industrial Act.
At the Interactive session organized by the Senate committee on finance with revenue generating Agencies, The representative of the Group Managing Director of the Nation’s Oil Co-operation Garba Deen Mohammed (General Manger , Group Public Affairs Department) claimed that since the agency is now limited liability company under the new Petroleum Industry Act , the Senate has no legal backing to summon the institution.
Reacting to the submission earlier made to Clerk of the National Assembly by the Liaison Officer of NNPC, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Adeola Olamilekan said that NNPC is 100 percent owned by the Federal government and has the right to summon or invite the NNPC to appear before the lawmakers at any given time .
He added that the Petroleum Industry Act passed by the National Assembly only empowers the NNPC to be active participants in the oil industry.
He advised the Representative of the Group Managing Director to correct the impression earlier submitted by the NNPC Liaison Officer attached to the National Assembly that NNPC is no longer answerable to the legislators.
The committee thereafter mandated the Group Managing Director of NNPC Melee Kayri to appear before the Senate committee on finance on Thursday in person to answer questions bothering on fuel subsidy ,oil production as well as revenue generation.
