The House of Representatives has made clarifications on the dissolution of the ad-hoc Committee on Oil and Gas by the leadership of the House.
Recall that the leadership of the House recently dissolved the ad-hoc joint Downstream and Midstream Committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, non-availability of crude oil for domestic refiners, and other issues in the sector.
However, the House, in a statement on Wednesday by its Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., clarified that the action was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.
Rotimi noted that the action of the House leadership was not based on any rift between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, or an inducement for the appointment of a Committee Chairman as being alleged.
He further clarified that the House has its internal working mechanisms, which are enabled by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning & recess of the House.”
He said that the Leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an Ad hoc C’ttee whenever the need arises, and that the action did not contravene any rule of the House or any law of the land.
The House Spokesman explained that at no time did the House Leadership or anybody for that matter receive inducement for the appointment of any C’ttee Chair, adding that it was an assignment diligently executed by the House Selection C’ttee between June & July 2023, which has a member from each State of the federation.
He further explained that there is no rift whatsoever between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker regarding this or any matter, noting that the duo enjoys a robust and cordial relationship.
“The two Presiding Officers also have mutual respect for each other, and will not allow anything to come between them. The public should therefore disregard the speculations making the round in some sections of the media.
“Furthermore, the House of Representatives wishes to implore journalists and the Nigerian media in general to always verify their facts and crosscheck with the appropriate quarters before going to the press with information that are nothing but falsehoods dished out as stories”, Rotimi said.
He concluded that the House operates an open-door policy, and would remain open to the Nigerian public and the media regarding its activities.
