Ministers’ Refusal to Attend Sectoral Debate Sets Executive, Legislature on Warpath

James Emejo in Abuja

The decision by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, as well as the Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Abubakar Bawa Bwari, to turn down a sectoral debate organised by the House of Representatives, with special focus on the steel sector, particularly on how to revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State, may have incurred the wrath of the lower chamber, THISDAY gathered last night.

The widely publicised debate, scheduled to hold today at the chamber between 11 am and 3p.m, is expected have top players in the sector and major stakeholders in attendance.

But, in what could be seen as a major upset, both minister had through a letter by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu, dated February 27, 2018, with reference No. MMSD/S/BUDG2017, indicated their inability to honour the invitation by the House, which was personally endorsed by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara- citing other official engagements.

The development is particularly worrisome to the House given the important role which the ministers’ presence will play in the overall debate.

The lower House also found their excuses curious, given that any one of the ministers could have arranged to attend nevertheless.
According to documents cited by THISDAY, the Speaker’s letter inviting the minister for the sectoral debate was dated February 16, 2018 but the reply from the ministry came February 27, 2017.

The reply from the Ministry of Mines and Steel read: “The minister, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his counterpart, the Minister of State, Abubakar Bawa Bwari are slated for official engagements during the scheduled period of the debate.

“The minister has prior diplomatic schedule engagement in preparation to the focal labs of ERGP relating to the mining sectors while the Minister of State will be leading the ministry’s delegation to Canada to attend the PDAC Conference.”

Apparently, the excuse for non- attendance didn’t go well with the Dogara who in a follow up letter, raised suspicion over the ministers’ excuses, particularly given the ministry’s alleged vested interest in the concessioning of the Ajaokuta steel.

The letter from the speaker’s office read: “In your letter under reference, you said the two ministers in the ministry would not honour the invitation due to prior commitments.

“According to the letter, ‘The minister has prior diplomatic schedule engagement in preparation to the focal….
“I am further directed to respectfully state that the House considers the attendance of one of the ministers in the ministry of crucial importance to its legislative intervention in the Steel sector to ensure timely completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, and consequently requests you to reconsider the apparent boycott of the House’s sectoral debate.

“We think that the debate presents an opportunity for the ministry to debunk the widespread allegations that the proposed concessionaires have tied the hands of the ministry.

“We are worried that the apparent boycott of the session by your ministry can only lend credence to the allegations that the top echelon of your ministry are deeply conflicted in the matter.”

Continuing, it stated: “In view of the cordial relationship that has always existed between the two minister and the Speaker and the institution of the House of Representatives, we urge you to take all reasonable measures to reinforce this relationship moreso that the session is widely advertised and will go on with or without your participation.”

Notably, Bwari had recently accompanied the Speaker on a recent trip to the steel plant in Kogi