Come Up With Evidence Against Committee Members Extorting MDAs - Reps To Blackmailers

The House of Representatives has described the allegations published in Premium Times of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, accusing lawmakers probing job racketeering of extorting money from agencies, as mere blackmail but instead says it's the lot of anybody who is trying to do a good job.

The publication had alleged that some members of the committee were involved in extorting some government entities, without the compromise mandate of the committee.

For clarification, the House explained that the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Need to Investigate Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs); Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement of Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering, and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), was empaneled by the House leadership in line with Section 62 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on July 19, 2023.

In a release by Hon Akin Rotimi, Jr., House Spokesman and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, he stated, "we would like to state clearly, that we have no reason to doubt the integrity of the leadership and members of the referenced committee, who were carefully selected based on their respective professional pedigrees, competence, and character, to carry out this important national assignment."

Meanwhile, the committee during its investigation has exposed mind-boggling evidence on how agencies and government institutions have used waiver provisions to perpetuate Lopsided employment and abuse job recruitment.

While trying to highlight the dangers inherent in investigating such fraud, the House spokesman stated that "the public is invited to take cognizance of the fact that following the very serious revelations that have emerged from the work of the referenced committee, which have been well publicized and televised, it would not be strange for them to face unwarranted attacks on their integrity, individually and collectively, as a means of distracting them."

"We, however, invite members of the public," he said, "or any of the affected government entities with evidence related to the allegations, to approach the House for necessary action."

Insisting that the House is not out to cover any evil deeds, Hon. Rotimi reiterated that the disposition of the 10th House of Representatives is a total war against corruption, saying, "it would be recalled that the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., has stated in multiple engagements that in line with the expectations of Nigerians, the 10th Assembly, House of Representatives will be a champion of anti-corruption efforts in this new dispensation."

That notwithstanding, Rotimi maintained, "We wish to reiterate that Members of the House of Representatives will not be distracted from carrying their
mandate as enshrined in Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which gives the National Assembly powers to expose corruption for the good governance of Nigerians