After weeks of silence, the panel that was set up by the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi to probe the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has come open with request for memoranda from the agency’s staff and stakeholders.
In a public notice that was sighted by Shipping Position Daily on Wednesday, the Administrative Panel of Inquiry gave 7 days for such memoranda to reach its secretariat at the Ministry of Transportation in Abuja.
The notice that was signed by Secretary of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry, Gabriel Fan, said the request for memoranda was in line with the mandate of the panel.
The panel’s Terms Of Reference were to:
i. Examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 to May 2021.
ii. Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and Presidential directives.
iii. Examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtains in the Public Service.
iv. Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to May, 2021.
v. To determine the Revenues, Expenditures and Remittances to Government by NPA from 2016 to May, 2021 vis-à-vis Government Financial Regulations.
vi. Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of Nigerian Ports Authority.
vii. And any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.
Recall that the Minister had mandated the panel to investigate the activities of Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016 to May 2021, when Hadiza was suspended.
