The
House of Representatives, yesterday, threatened to issue a warrant of
arrest against the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over
her refusal to honour invitations from its Committee on Pensions.
Members of
the committee also want the Finance Minister to explain her role in the
take-over of Police Pension Fund and non-payment of pensions to retired
officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force.
Chairman of
the Committee on Pension, Ibrahim Kamba, read the decision of the
committee after waiting for the minister for several hours without any
apology for non-appearance.
He noted
that it was obvious that the minister was not ready to appear to explain
why the ministry took over Police Pension office without regard to
Pension Reform Act.
“We have
been inviting the Minister of Finance over the problems of police
pension. She has been holding the police pension and several police
pensioners have died due to non-payment despite the fact that the
National Assembly appropriated money in the 2012 fiscal year.
“Following
her refusal, the committee is going to issue a warrant of arrest against
the minister if she fails to attend the next meeting.
“We are
going to give her a last opportunity. She has no right to neglect the
summons of the committee. Many former IGs have not been paid. Sunday
Ehindero and Sunday Adewusi and DIG Akeredolu have not been listed due
to the take-over by the minister.
“We want to
make the reason for our action clear to Nigerians. We hate playing with
peoples’ lives. We have received some petitions from the police that
many police pensioners are not paid.”
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