House Probes Debt Claims in Aviation Industry

• Moves to curb illegal mining in Osun

By Udora Orizu

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate claims and counterclaims regarding the issues of debts in the aviation industry.

The committee was given six weeks to carry out the investigation and report back for further legislative action.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Alli Adeyemi Taofeek at the plenary on Wednesday.

Taofeek had, while moving the motion, noted that the Nigerian government has invested massively in the aviation sector thereby heightening the expectations of stakeholders.

He said the House is informed that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had raised concerns over the billions of naira debt owed agencies like the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by airlines.

The lawmaker said he’s disturbed that the debt claims are misleading, unprofessional, unethical and strongly deviate from the tenets of transparency and accountability.

He added that the probe is necessary so as to get the records straight and proffer lasting solutions to the debt crisis in the Industry.

Also at the plenary, the lawmakers, while adopting a motion on the need to curb illegal mining in Ijeshaland, Osun State, sponsored by Hon. Lawrence Babatunde Ayeni, mandated its Committee on Solid Minerals Development to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to ascertain the authorized and licensed miners within Ijesha South Federal Constituency.