Peeved by alleged disobedience to President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the dissolution of all boards of agencies and parastatals and financial/administrative infractions by the National Steel Council (NSC), the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development has summoned the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu.
The minister is expected to appear before the commission tomorrow ( on Wednesday) at 2 pm.
A letter addressed to the Minister dated 19th April 2024 and signed by Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Honourable Zainab asked him to appear to clear himself of allegations of financial/administrative infractions and purported dissolution of the National Steel Council (NSC).”
The letter reads in part: “I write to invite you to a crucial session over allegations of financial/administrative infractions, purported dissolution of the National Steel Council (NSC) and its connection with the Presidential directive on dissolution of Boards of Federal Agencies/Parastatals.
“It may interest you to note that the committee is inundated with arrays of negative criticisms from the general public and the media over the Council’s activities which include the legitimacy of the Council; Prolonged discord among Council members; Issue of dual office accommodation rent by the council; Status of the Steel Levy and its utilisation so far;
“Recruitment process in NSC and extent of compliance with due process/Federal Character; Other sources of funding of the Council since inaugurated in August 2022.”
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Checks revealed that President Bola Tinubu had in June 2023 approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest.
A statement by Willy Bassey on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, the President said the dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The statement reads in part: “In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices. “Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023. “Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance.”
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