The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has inaugurated a seven-man panel of enquiry to probe all contracts awarded by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) under the leadership of the suspended Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman.
The panel which was inaugurated on Monday in Abuja is led by Mr Auwalu Suleiman, Director Maritime Services, Chairman of the committee, and Co-chaired by, Dr. Ben Omogo, Director, Organization Design & Development (OHCSF).
The Minister, while inaugurating the panel of enquiry, urged the members to be honest, thorough in their investigation, and to come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of NPA.
He noted that the terms and references of the committee include: “Examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 — date.
“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.
“Examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtained in the Public Service.
“Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date. Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of Nigerian Ports Authority and forestall such occurrences in future.
“And any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.”
Other members of the panel are; Hussani Adamu, Director, Procurement; Mrs Blessing Azorbo, Director, Legal Services; Mercy Ilori, Director, Transport Planning Coordination; Muhly-deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management; Mohammed Usman, DFA; Mohammed Lawal Garba, Director Audit; Mrs Bose Olaniyi, Deputy Director Admin; Dauda Usman, AD Procurement and Gabriel Fan, Deputy Director, Legal Services, who serves as the secretary of the committee.
Also, three employees of Human Resources Management are to serve as secretariat staff of the committee.
Hadiza Bala Usman was appointed in 2016 and her tenure was renewed for another five years in January but she was suspended last week.
