Many Nigerians never seem to agree with committee set-ups by the government at all levels owing partly to lack of integrity and focus on the part of committee members and the government’s haphazard approach to handling and implementing recommendations made by such committees. Committees to most are a waste of time and the government’s tricky way of dodging responsibility.

Last week, the Nigerian Senate discussed the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at one of its plenary sessions and issues that concern the diversion of funds and aid materials meant for IDPs were touched. An ad hoc committee was immediately set up to investigate the situation in the North East and just yesterday, the committee was inaugurated by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The Senate President via his Twitter handle said  there will be no cover-ups in this investigation as the whole world is watching. Yes indeed! We are watching to see the Senate reveal the identities of those who are involved in this dastardly act and ensure that they are prosecuted. Really, this investigation should have started long before now as security officials who monitor activities in the camps had raised an alarm on the issue of exploitation. The EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu also bragged about “gathering intelligence” on the situation and assured that culprits will be invited by the agency. It’s been a whole month since his statement and we’re yet to see or hear of any development on this promise.

Some unconfirmed reports were circulated last week and three companies alleged to have received contracts that run into millions of naira but have failed to perform, were named. One of the companies, Lintex International was allegedly paid N117 million to provide temporary shelters and is yet to deliver. From our own investigation, Lintex International is an oil and gas company that diversified into rice production, services that are not even remotely related to construction but rumour has it that the CEO of Lintex, Bashir Dantata Jnr is President Buhari’s nephew. Moreover, companies in Nigeria are known to be jack of all trades, especially when multi-million naira government contracts are involved.

It has become an urgent task for the members of the ad hoc committee to look into these unconfirmed reports and provide quick answers. They have less than two weeks to submit recommendations and we expect that they will come forward with tangible information and names. The Chairman of the committee is APC’s Senator Shehu Sani, who represents Kaduna Central zone in the House. Senator Sani is well known for his grudge against Kaduna state governor, Nasir El Rufai and his policies. Other members of the committee are Senator Theodore Orji and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

Tolu

Your pop culture/entertainment go-to. Music head. Wallflower. I do not like to write. On a mission to decipher covfefe.