The Nigeria House of Representatives decided on Thursday to investigate the purported unlawful sale of Federal Government properties by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The resolution was reached after Hon. Oluwole Oke presented a motion during the plenary session in Abuja.
According to Oke, other agencies implicated in this matter include the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), River Basin Development Authority (RBDA), and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
During his presentation, Oke emphasized that the disposal and auction process for government assets in Nigeria is explicitly outlined in the Financial Regulations of 2009 and the Public Procurement Act of 2007, among other relevant legislation. He further noted that the 1999 Constitution stipulates that all revenues generated from the sale or auction of public property should be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The lawmaker alleged that the NPA, NIMASA, NRC, Customs, and other agencies have been neglecting proper procedures in the auction of public property. He emphasized that the failure to fully or partially remit revenue from the auction into the consolidated revenue fund constitutes a violation of the constitution.
Following the submission, the House, thereafter, resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the disposal of public property by the affected agencies.
The probe will cover the period between 2010 and 2022 with a view to establishing the extent of the alleged illegal auction of public property and the non-remittance of revenue realised into the consolidated revenue purse.
The committee is expected to report submit its report to the House within four weeks.