The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has inaugurated an 11-man panel of inquiry to look into the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) between 2016 to 2021 under the suspended Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman.
Bala-Usman was suspended on Thursday by Amaechi for various violations following the backing of President Buhari.
The panel is headed by Mr. Suleiman Auwalu, the Director of Maritime Service of the ministry.
Other members include; Ben Omogo, Director Organisation Design and Development (OHCSF); Dr. Hussaini Adamu, Director Procurement; Mrs. Mercy Ilori, Director, Transport Planning Coordination; Mr. Muhiy-deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management; Mrs. Blessing Azorbo, Director Legal (OHCSF); Mohammed K. Usma, Director Finance and Accounting (OHCSF); Mohammed Lawal Garba, Director Audit (OHSCF); Mrs. Rose Olaniyi, Deputy Director, Administration (OHACF); Dauda Ismail, Assistant Director, Procurement (OHSCF); and Mr. Gabriel Fan, Deputy Director, Legal Services.
He listed the terms of reference of the panel as follows:
*Examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 till date.
*Examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 to date.
*Examine and investigate Issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and Presidential directives.
*Examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtained in the Public Service.
*Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date.
*Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of Nigerian Ports Authority and forestall such occurrences in future if any and any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.
The Minister noted that they had asked the Auditor-General of the Federation to allow them do an audit of NPA, he declined not minding that President Buhari approved of it.
He said: “In declining the approval of the president, we had no choice than to do proper enquiry and it worries me that people are saying that we should not enquire.”
“We want to enquire what the procurement process is. If everything is right, why do we have to bother at the end of the day? So, when you complete your assignment, we would be glad to pass on the report to the president.
“I think that NPA’s revenue has exceeded about a trillion naira in the past five years and I am going by the budget submission and the submission that was tendered before the budget office.
“So, if their budget in three to five years is about N300 billion annually, then, multiply it by five years. That would be nearly a trillion or slightly above a trillion Naira,” Amaechi added.
He however asked the panel to be meticulous, thorough, and fair to all in its assignment.