Organised Private Sector Accuses Lawmakers of Abuse of Oversight Function

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The organised private sector in Nigeria (OPS) has expressed concern over what it described as incessant invitations and summons of organised businesses by Committees of the National Assembly for investigative hearings.

It said the summons which were being carried out under sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, was disrupting normal business activities.

The OPS is made up of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industries (NASSI) and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, the Director-General, of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Quadri said members of organised businesses, “have been inundated with several letters of invitations and summons for different investigative hearings by various Committees and Ad-hoc Committees of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), premised on section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

According to him, these frequent summons have been a notable challenge since the 7th National Assembly, from year 2012.

He said: “Recently, several letters were received by our member-companies from the Ad-hoc Committee on Non-Remittance to the National Housing Fund and Utilization of the Fund from 2011 to Date, and the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Compliance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government and Corporate Bodies with the Industrial Training Fund Act, amongst other Committees.

“While we appreciate efforts of the National Assembly and its various Committees and Ad-hoc Committees to investigate and carry out oversight functions on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, we are of the view that sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, relied upon by the Committees of the National Assembly is not applicable to Businesses in the Private Sector.”

The DG urged the National Assembly, its various Committees and Ad-hoc Committees to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case it referred to, adding that the apex court’s decision would help resolve the issue of the frequent request for information and invitations/summons of private companies by Committees of the National Assembly as well as the contentious investigatory authority bestowed on the legislative chamber by sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution (1999) as amended.

“At a time when the economy is undergoing major macroeconomic and structural challenges, as well as struggling with the fallout of recent economic reform measures, we urge the National Assembly to focus on strengthening the capacity of the Executive Agencies to effectively carry out their functions, and refrain from carrying out any activity that would constitute a burden or destabilise law abiding businesses in the form of duplicated audits/regulations.”

Ajayi-Quadri, said the achievement of the 8-point Agenda of the current administrations required a conducive environment and active participation of the private sector.

“We crave the support and partnership of the National Assembly to enable the private sector make its own contribution to this national agenda.

“We are highly desirous of a constructive engagement with the leadership of the Committees and seek the urgent intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly in order to bring about an amicable solution and deepen our collaboration for the good of the country,” said MAN.