Fifty members of the House of Representatives have backed Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC), and Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The lawmakers condemned the call for the removal of Kyari and Farouk, describing the move as premature and unjustified.
The group led by Hon. Billy Famous Osawaru from Edo State, on Thursday faulted the call for Kyari’s dismissal while an investigation is still ongoing, stressing that it is against parliamentary norms.
Recall that the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Mele Kyari, citing the alleged stifling of the economy’s growth due to the ongoing crisis in the oil sector.
Agbese has also called on the President to sack Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), along with other appointees inherited from the previous administration.
Osawaru, during a press briefing, emphasized that it’s against parliamentary culture to demand the sacking of a government official before the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.
He stated that parliamentary culture requires ensuring that all parties involved in an investigation are afforded the right to a fair hearing. Osawaru also urged the committee overseeing the probe to remain impartial.
“Nigerians are well aware that the recent hike in fuel prices and the associated challenges are pressing concerns. In response, the House of Representatives has mandated its joint committee on Midstream and Downstream Petroleum to investigate issues within the oil and gas sector.
“We acknowledge that this investigation is ongoing and no final decision has yet been made. However, we have noted recent media reports calling for the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA while the investigation is still in progress.”
“We wish to emphasize that, according to parliamentary procedure, it is essential to provide all parties involved in an investigation with the right to a fair hearing. Consequently, calls for the removal of any individual while an investigation is ongoing are premature.
We urge all Nigerians to exercise patience and adhere to the law as we work towards a better Nigeria.”
The lawmakers expressed concern about the ongoing protests in the country and convened to further assess the situation’s impact on the well-being of Nigerians. They appealed for calm and urged all citizens to end the protests.
He added, “Today, August 1, 2024, over 50 members of the House of Representatives have come together to assess the ongoing protests and their impact on the well-being of Nigerians.
“We want to acknowledge the commendable efforts of the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Right Honorable Tajudeen Abbas, PhD. His initiative to convene a youth dialogue has been instrumental in easing tensions related to the upcoming protests.”
“After observing the nationwide protests, we commend the youth and all Nigerians for their dignified conduct. We urge everyone to remain calm and call for the conclusion of the protests, appealing to all Nigerians to bring these demonstrations to a peaceful end, “he said.
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