Reps Invite 17 NNPC’s Subsidiaries Over Audit Queries
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the 17 subsidiaries of the defunct Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), now NNPC Limited to answer the audit queries from the Auditor-General of the Federation between 2014 and 2019 respectfully.
The subsidiaries that are to appear on Friday, March 25 2022 are the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Pipeline and Products Marketing Company Limited, Duke Oil Company Inc; West Africa Gas Limited Nidas Marine Limited who appeared on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Others include Hyson (Nigeria) Limited, Nigeria Gas Company, National Engineering and Technical Company, National Petroleum Exchange, NNPC Pensions Limited, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company who are to appear on Thursday, March 24, 2022, while Port Harcourt Refining Company, NNPC Retail Limited, Integrated Data Service Limited, National Petroleum Investment & Management Services (NAPIMS) and Petroleum Product Pricing Regulator Agency PPPRA).
Observers say 17 companies may not honour the requests having rebuffed previous invitations by the committee despite threats of severe sanction by the federal lawmakers.
The summon signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Busayo Oluwole Oke (PDP -Osun), and dated March 16, 2022, was addressed to the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari.
The letter titled: “Consideration of the Auditor General of Federation’s Annual report on Federations account 2014-2019 financial year and non-rendition of the audited account by NNPC subsidiaries covering the period 2014-2019 to the Auditor General’s Office.”
It reads: “Pursuant to section 85, 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution as amended and Order XX Rule 6 of the House of Representatives Standing Order, I again request you to provide all the Managing Directors of the following 17 NNPC subsidiaries with their Accounting Officers to appear before the Committee and answer all issues raised against them in the above subject matter. ”
They are expected to provide copies of their Audited Accounts for 2015 -2021 in compliance with financial regulation No, 3210(v), Evidence of Submission of copies to Auditor General Office for the Federation.
The subsidiaries are also to present to the House, evidence justifying non-cooperation in respect of constitutional checks conducted based on Section 85(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, the management of the NNPC Limited had assured the committee that the companies would honour the invitation and asked that the letter of summon be channelled through the Group Managing Director who would lead them on days allotted to them.
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