The Senate on Wednesday clashed with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited over legal basis of not honouring invitation by its relevant committees.
The NNPC in response to the invitation from the Senate said that since the agency was now limited liability company by virtue of provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 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
But 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 anytime to appear before the lawmakers for any explanation.
Adeola made the reaction when the General Manager, Public Affairs , NNPC, Garbadeen Muhammad, appeared before the Committee at the Interactive session on 2023-2025 MTEF/FSP projections .
He added that the law passed by the National Assembly only empowered the NNPC to be active participant in the oil industry.
He said, “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 limited liability company by our law. We change your status because we want you to be active participant in 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 issue you need to address.”
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