Constitutional lawyers and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have expressed strong disapproval of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas’s decision to dissolve the joint committee investigating issues in the Petroleum Midstream and Downstream sectors.
On August 5, House Spokesman Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr. announced the disbandment of the committee, stating that it would be replaced by a new ad-hoc committee tasked with continuing the investigation.
The critics have labeled this move as an attempt to obscure issues within the sector. They argue that any reversal of the dissolution should be carried out through a formal resolution by the House.
The Alliance for Transparency, comprising several lawyers and CSOs, has condemned the dissolution of the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream), led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okojie.
They questioned the legitimacy of the decision, emphasizing that the original referral was made through a formal House resolution in a plenary session.
The group expressed concern that the timing of the dissolution, following allegations of financial influence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) on the House leadership, suggests a possible cover-up.
They urged that any reversal of the dissolution should be conducted through a proper House resolution.