THE House of Representatives Committee on Communications
on Wednesday gave the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu up
till 10 00am this morning to appear before it for the defence of the
Ministry’s 2017 budget failure which the Ministry would be given zero
allocation for the financial year.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi
handed down the order yesterday when the officials of the Ministry led its
Permanent Secretary; Mr. Sunny Echono appeared before the Committee for the
second time for the defense of the budget
The Committee had earlier turned back the Minister last
Month when he first appeared before it and was directed to come along with all
relevant document again related with performance of the 2016 budget failure
which the Committee vowed not to attend to the 2017 budget.
However, at the budget defense yesterday, the Committee
members expressed anger over the absence of the Minister despite all the
assurances earlier gotten to appear in person and insisted that he must appear
in person
They stated that they were following the law that stated
that the National Assembly must appropriate funds to all the Ministries,
Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the government in every financial year and
that the ministry risked having Zero allocation with the attitude of the
Minister
The lawmakers pointed out that by even allowing the
permanent secretary and others to appear before the Committee was a sign of
respect for the him as they ought to have sent them out in the first instance
based on the Minister’s behavior towards the parliament
The Chairman explained that the sitting had
to be fixed for 4 00pm yesterday at the instance of the Minister to allow him
to attend the Federal executive Council, FEC, meeting but expressed shock why
he decided to stay away again
He directed the minister to appear before the Committee
by 10 00am today along with all relevant documents earlier requested from the
Ministry.
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