Nasarawa Assembly Summons Environment Commissioner Kwanta Yakubu Over Insubordination
….Invites MD of Multiverse Mining and Exploration Plc over lawmaker Omadefu’s alarm
….Throughout my tenure, the House would not permit anyone to erode its integrity – Speaker Jatau
Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, has been summoned by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to appear at the plenary on Monday, 16th December, 2024.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Jibrin Gwamna, Chief Press Secretary, the House stated that the Commissioner exhibited a high level of insubordination due to his failure to appear before the House Committee on Housing and Environment to defend the ministry’s 2024 budget performance, as well as for undermining the powers and integrity of the House.
The House has also summoned the Managing Director of Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC, which operates the Abuni mining site in Awe LGA, to appear before the House on Monday, 16th December, 2024, over the company’s failure to implement the Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the community and the hazardous environment resulting from the company’s activities.
Following the issue being raised under matters of public interest by Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, member representing Keana Constituency, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the House, issued the summon during the House proceedings in Lafia today.
According to Speaker Jatau, the Commissioner for Environment is not exempt from the law, hence the necessity for his invitation.
“As a law-abiding institution, this House prioritizes the state’s interests while providing a voice for the voiceless, guided by the principles of the rule of law.” Jatau maintained.”
” If His Excellency, Engr. A A Sule will appeared before this House to present the budget before Honourable Members.
” Then who is a Commissioner that will not appear before the House Committee to defend the budget, it is unfortunate, and we cannot take that, we must carry out serious actions against the person.
” It is in view of this that we are summoning the Environment Commissioner to appear before the House on Monday, 16th December, 2024 and failure to appear, we will know the next line of action to be taken” he said.
The Speaker declared that during his tenure, the House would not allow anyone to erode its integrity.
The statement Furthermore added, the Speaker has summoned the Managing Director of Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC, which operates a mining site in Abuni, Awe LGA, to appear before the House on Monday, 16th December, 2024, regarding the company’s failure to fulfill the Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the community and the hazardous environment created by the company.
He noted that the invitation extended to the MD was to enable him to provide explanations for his company’s failure to adhere to international mining best practices and its non-compliance with the Community Development Agreement with Abuni community.
Hon. Musa Ekye, Hon. Kudu Ajegana, Barr. Esson Mairiga, Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, Hon. Hudu A Hudu, Hon. Onarigu Onah Kana, and others, also voiced their support for the Environment Commissioner and MD Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC to appear before the House.
They pointed out that the constitution has empowered the House to oversight the activities of MDA.
They expressed disappointment over Kwanta’s failure to appear before the House Committee on Housing and Environment to defend the ministry’s budget without providing valid reasons.
The lawmakers engaged in an extensive and heated discussion regarding the commissioner’s behavior towards the legislative institution, emphasizing that any government official discovered undermining the integrity of the house would face corresponding punishment.
Earlier, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, Chairman, House Committee on Housing and Environment, while raising the issue, said the Environment Commissioner failed to appear before the committee to defend the 2024 budget performance.
He indicated that the committee invited the ministry to present its budget performance, but it did not show up.
Hon. Omadefu decried the plight of Abuni community residents caused by mining exploration in the area.
The lawmaker urged the House to summon the Managing Director of Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC to appear before the committee to explain the reasons for his failure to honor the Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development Agreement with the Community.
Omadefu gave a detailed account of the critical issues facing the company and the Environment Ministry, requesting the House to take appropriate action to safeguard the interests of the people and maintain the integrity of the House.
