By Taiwo Scholarstica
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has issued a final warning to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that have failed to honour its invitations.
The committee threatened to use its constitutional powers to compel the affected agencies to appear before it and provide the documents and information required for the ongoing investigation.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, issued the warning on Tuesday, saying the refusal of the agencies to appear before the panel amounted to a challenge to the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly.
The committee described the action of the defaulting agencies as “a serious affront” to the House of Representatives and a setback to the legislature’s constitutional duty to ensure accountability within public institutions.
He said, “The committee views this conduct as a serious affront to the constitutional oversight powers of the House of Representatives and an unacceptable disregard for the authority of the Parliament, which represents the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
Gagdi reminded the affected agencies that invitations from duly constituted committees of the House are supported by the Constitution and must be honoured.
He said, “It must be clearly understood that invitations issued by a duly constituted Committee of the House of Representatives are not matters of discretion.
“They are issued pursuant to the constitutional powers vested in the National Assembly under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy.”
The committee consequently directed all ministries, departments and agencies that failed to appear to report before it on Thursday, alongside the relevant officials and documents earlier requested.
According to Gagdi, Thursday’s hearing would provide the affected agencies with a final opportunity to comply with the committee’s directives voluntarily.
“Thursday is the final opportunity for every defaulting agency to comply voluntarily with the lawful directives of this Committee,” he added.
The committee further warned that agencies that fail to appear without lawful justification would face possible sanctions.
“Any ministry, department or agency that fails to appear without lawful justification will leave the committee with no alternative but to invoke every constitutional and statutory power available to the House of Representatives to compel compliance and ensure accountability.
“The Committee will not hesitate to recommend and pursue every sanction permitted by law against any person or institution that deliberately obstructs or frustrates this investigation,” he warned.
Gagdi maintained that the investigation was not designed to target or victimise any individual or institution, but to uncover the facts surrounding the activities of the PFIPC and ensure that public administration remains within the bounds of the law.
He continued, “This investigation is in the national interest. It is not targeted at any individual or institution but is aimed at establishing the facts, protecting the integrity of public administration, safeguarding the rule of law, and ensuring that no public office or institution operates outside the framework of the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The committee also restated its determination to conduct the investigation fairly and professionally.
“No agency of government, regardless of its status or perceived influence, will be permitted to undermine the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives or frustrate the discharge of its legislative responsibilities,” he added.
The latest warning comes as the committee continues its investigation into the activities of the PFIPC, an organisation whose legal status has been questioned following allegations that it operated as a government entity without formal establishment.
During previous proceedings, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs told lawmakers that it did not recognise the council and had no official dealings with its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The ministry further disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser had informed it that both the alleged official and the council were not known to the Federal Government.
The committee is expected to establish whether any government institutions or officials were involved in facilitating the activities of the organisation and determine the appropriate legislative or legal steps to be taken.