It was a fruitless hour-long waiting on Monday, as members of the House of Representatives expected to receive Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,Timipre Sylva, and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari.
Members of the joint House committee on Petroleum (Upstream, and Downstream) and Gas Resources, and numbering more than 50 sat for about two hours with signs of the duo, or their respective agency’s management team, leaving them with no option but to adjourn the season indefinitely.
Journalists covering the House, though not invited, stormed the meeting room when they got wind of the minister and the GMD’s coming, to observe that the portion meant for members was already packed full with lawmakers waiting patiently for the invitees.
This was however a curious development, as the usual normal practice where the oversighted Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are sited before the arrival of the lawmakers.
Obvious that colleagues were no longer comfortable with the situation, lead chairman of the joint committee, Hon. Musa Sarkin-Adda, addressed his colleagues. “My dear honourable colleagues, We have been here today for the budget defence of petroleum with the minister who said he was summoned to the Villa by Mr. President.
“Sited by my right is my elder brother and leader, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, chairman Gas, and to my immediate left is my younger brother but leader in the House, Hon. Abdullahi Mahmoud Gaya, chairman Upstream. We have been here for more than 30 minutes (immediately disputed by colleagues who said they had been sited for more than an hour)…up till now, the minister who confirmed to all three chairmen of his willingness to appear is not here.
“Although he called a while ago to say that he was summoned to the villa by Mr President, and it is our belief he’s still with Mr president. Given the circumstances, I want to suggest that we adjourn the meeting Sinedie, pending when the minister is ready to make an appearance,” Sarkin-Adda said.
