(By Ndubuisi Orji and Kemi Yesufu – ABUJA)
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the activities of the Presidential Committee on Review of arms procurement.
The House at Thursday’s plenary directed its committees on Procurement, National Security and Intelligence to probe the activities of the presidential committee and report back to it within four weeks.
This is sequel to a motion brought before the House by Hon Chris Azubogo on the “urgent need to investigate the committee set up by the presidency and office of the National Security Adviser in respect to arms procurement.”
Leading the debate, Azubogo said the Presidency in August 2015 set up a committee to review arms procurement and to report back within 90 days.
He said that the committee later requested for a two-week extension, which was granted, noting that more than one year after the committee has yet to submit its report.
The legislator said the members of the committee were accommodated at the expense of the government without commensurate result.
“Up till now, the committee has not submitted its report. This led to non-payments to companies that have executed various projects, leading to untold hardship on the contractors, vendors and workers,” he said.
Azubogo added that a similar committee set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in October 2015, with same mandate, had completed its assignment and submitted its report since February.
The motion was referred to the committee on Procurement, National Security and Intelligence.