On Tuesday, a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the oil and gas sector commended Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for disbanding the House joint ad hoc committee on Downstream and Midstream Petroleum.
The joint committee, led by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo) and Rep. Henry Okojie (Edo), was dissolved on Monday morning through a statement signed by the House Spokespersons, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jnr.
Initially tasked with investigating issues like alleged importation of adulterated petroleum products and energy security, the committee faced controversies leading to divisions among members, with differing opinions on how to proceed.
A press release by the Coalition for Energy Transformation, Integrity, and Transparency (CETIT), comprising 28 CSOs in the industry, praised Speaker Abbas for his prompt action in averting a potential crisis within the National Assembly.
The coalition expressed concerns about the perceived partisanship within the joint committee and emphasized the need for a fair and impartial investigation without biases.
They highlighted the importance of national interest over personal agendas and applauded the Speaker for ensuring that the integrity of the House was upheld by disbanding the contentious committee.
Looking ahead, the coalition urged the Speaker to appoint a neutral and competent panel for the investigation, pledging their full support to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.