Customs, NPA, others face probe over auction of govt properties

The House of Representatives has resolved to probe what it regards as the illegal auctioning of federal government properties by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

Other agencies allegedly involved are the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), River Basin Development Authority (RBDA), and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

This is sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun) during plenary on Thursday in Abuja.

In his motion, Mr Oke said the procedure for the disposal and auctioning of government assets in Nigeria were well spelt out in Financial Regulations, 2009 and Public Procurement Act 2007, among others.

Mr Oke said the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that all revenues realised from the disposal or auctioning of public property be remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The agencies, NPA, NIMASA, NRC, NCS, and RBDA, were alleged to have been auctioning public property at a ridiculous price and without following due process.

The lawmaker advanced that partial remittance or non-remittance of revenue realised from the auctioning of public property into consolidated revenue funds was a breach of the constitution.

He expressed concern that if the practice continued, coupled with dwindling crude oil revenue in Nigeria, the government might not cope with the rising demand for accelerated infrastructure.

Following his submission, the house resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the disposal of public property by the affected agencies.

This, according to the house, would cover the period between 2010 and 2022 to establish the extent of the alleged illegal auctioning of public property and the non-remittance of revenue realised into the consolidated revenue purse.

The committee would report to the house within four weeks for further legislative action.

(NAN)