50 Federal lawmakers fault call for removal of NNPC chief, others

50 Federal lawmakers on Thursday described as premature the recent call by Hon. Philip Agbese for the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The lawmakers who are serving members of the House of Representatives are led by Hon. Billy Famous Osaware (Edo State).

Osaware told journalists in Abuja that it was against the rules of the House to jump into conclusions in a matter that was still under investigation by designated House Committee.

It would be recalled that the Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, had asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Kyari, for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector issues.

But reacting to the call, Osawaru said it was in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in investigation the right to fair hearing and called on the committee handling the probe to be impartial.

He said, “Nigerians will recall hike in fuel prices and associated challenges are fundamental concerns.

“The House of Representatives vide its resolutions mandated the joint committee of the house on Midstream and Downstream Petroleum to investigate issues in the oil.and gas sector.

“We are aware that investigation is ongoing and final decision has not been reached.

“However, our attention has been drawn to some media reports calling for the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA while the above investigation is subsisting.

“We wish to state that it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in an investigation that right to fair hearing. Therefore, the cal for removal of anyone while investigation is pending is premature.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians to be patient and law abiding in expectation of a better Nigeria.”

The lawmakers also expressed concerns about the ongoing protests in the country, saying they converged to further appraise the situation as it affected the well-being of Nigerians.

They appealed for calm and begged all Nigerians to bring the protests to an end.