Following controversies that surrounded the granting of duty waivers to some companies, the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives, on Monday invited the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the director-general of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Ben Akabueze and other officials of the ministry to come and offer explanations.
One of the notable cases is of such waivers is the ₦468 million allegedly granted to Saipem Contracting Ltd by the federal government.
Chairman of the committee, Rep Wole Oke (PDP- Osun) issued the summons on behalf of the committee at the ongoing investigative hearing on audited accounts of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and some private companies in Abuja.
Read Also: COVID-19: FG Okays Release Of ₦6.45bn For New Oxygen Plants
Oke said that the minister and the DG should appear within seven days to clear the air on the duty waivers granted to Saipem Contracting Ltd on ₦468 million worth of equipment and other items it imported into the country.
He said: ‘Why can’t we ask the minister and the DG to give us a comprehensive list of waivers granted to these companies within 14 days. We should also invite the beneficiary companies that got waivers.
‘I want to see these items and the value of the duties paid on them’.
While responding to the committee’s summons, the representative of the managing director of Saipem Contracting Ltd, Mr. Melvin Ponshak Daje explained that the duties were paid directly to the equipment manufacturers. Speaking on the activities of the company, Ponshak disclosed that Saipem is an indigenous oil servicing company that is involved in oil facilities servicing with the major oil-producing companies in Nigeria.
He informed that the company had been involved in the oil business for over fifty years, adding that they are engaged in the importation of oil-servicing equipment from all countries of the world. Also grilled by the committee on the issue of controversial waivers and duty evasion, was the management of Crocodile Matchet Ltd.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK