Govt Raises Panels On Ribadu Report, Others

The Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force’s report may not be dead after all.

The government yesterday gave a ray of hope that in spite of the controversy that greeted the report, it might still see the light of the day.

President Goodluck Jonathan raised three committee to prepare draft White Papers on the report of the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu Committee and two others on the oil industry.

The committees are to work for two weeks.

Also yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Communication Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the report would not be swept under the carpet.

A statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “In furtherance of his declared commitment to doing all within his powers to ensure greater accountability, probity and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today (yesterday) established three committees to prepare draft White Papers on the reports of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, the National Refineries Special Task Force and the Governance and Controls Special Task Force.

“The Committees are to study the reports, review the issues raised, and prepare draft White Papers for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council within two weeks.

“The White Paper Committee on the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, with the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II: Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed as members.

“The White Paper Committee on the report of the Governance and Controls Special Task Force will be chaired by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple. Other members of the committee are Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Bukar Tijani.

“The White Paper Committee on the report of the National Refineries Special Task Force has Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Mohammed Sada as Chairman, and Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate and Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyeson Wike as members.

“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will provide secretariat for the Committees.

A statement by Okupe yesterday said at no time did he or any official of government suggest that the report would be dumped even though the data were yet to be verified.

“There are several issues raised by the committee that would never be swept under the carpet by the Jonathan administration. Anyone found wanting shall be punished and all loopholes for corruption blocked.

“An obvious disclaimer issued by the committee on the entire report makes it impossible under our laws to indict or punish anybody except and until the Federal Government fully verifies and reconciles the facts as recommended by the committee in its submission to the government”.

Okupe stated because the report was hurriedly put together and submitted, the government would have to waste a lot of time and money putting together machinery to verify the document before a white paper would be issued.

“I must assure Nigerians that this administration is serious about fighting corruption through the prosecution and institutional reforms. Any person or organization found wanting by the report after verification would be made to face the law”, he added.