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Reps stop motion on dubious waivers by FG

By on November 8, 2013

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday stepped down a motion seeking to investigate alleged dubious import duty waivers granted by the Federal Government to some individuals, companies and agencies in the country.

A lawmaker from Ogun State, Mr. Olumide Osoba, who moved the motion, cited the case of the waiver granted to Coscharis Motors to import 300 vehicles, which was later used to import two BMW bulletproof cars worth N255m for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

However, before Osoba could argue the motion, the Deputy House Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, rose to move that it should be stopped.

Ogor noted that a similar motion had already been passed by the House and referred to the Committee on Customs for investigation.

“Under our rules, we cannot repeat the same issue upon which the House has taken a decision. The appropriate thing to do in this case is to wait for the report of the committee,” he said.

Ogor also observed that there was a disconnect between the heading of the motion and the body.

This prompted the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, to invite the Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, to guide the House.

Sam-Tsokwa confirmed that a similar motion had already been passed.

He also drew the attention of the House to the fact that while the heading of Osoba’s motion was on waivers, the body dwelt more on tax evasion.

“Waivers and tax evasion are two different issues; they are not the same. The mover of the motion has to clarify what this motion is really about,” he said.

When Osoba was called to make the clarification, he read from the motion paper and spoke of waivers and tax evasion at the same time.

At this point, Ihedioha agreed with Sam-Tsokwa that the motion should be withdrawn.

He ruled that Osoba should clearly define the motion and re-introduce it at a later date.

Meanwhile, the report on the 2013 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission split the lawmakers on Wednesday.

 

 

 

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