Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has kicked against Senate’s invitation to the Red chamber.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Senate clashed with NNPC Limited over the legal basis of not honouring invitations by its relevant committees.
In response to this, the NNPC said the agency was now limited liability company by virtue of provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, therefore, the Senate has no legal backing to summon it for any form of appearance.
NNPC made this known to the Senate Committee on Finance through the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Olatunde.
However, in his reaction to the letter, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC Lagos West), said that NNPC is 100 percent owned by the Federal government and it can be invited at any time to appear before the lawmakers for any explanation.
Adeola said this when the General Manager, Public Affairs, NNPC, Garbadeen Muhammad, appeared before the Committee at the Interactive session on 2023-2025 MTEF/FSP projections.
The Senator added that the law passed by the National Assembly only empowered the NNPC to be an active participant in the oil industry.
According to him, “Your Liason Officer told the clerk of National Assembly that you are now limited liability company that you cannot be appearing before Senate.
“We will summon you and invite you at any hour we need your attention. You are a limited liability company by our law. We change your status because we want you to be an active participant in the oil industry.
“Call your Liason Officer and correct impression by him. It is owned by Federal government and you remain accountable to Federal government. There are potent issues you need to address.”
