Insubordination : NSHA fumes, summon Kwanta Yakubu, MD, Multiverse Mining and Exploration Plc to appear at plenary.

By David Odama

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has summoned the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Yakubu Kwanta to appear at the plenary Monday, 16th December, 2024.

This, the House said the Commissioner has exhibited high level of insubordination over his failure to appear before the House Committee on Housing and Environment to defend the ministry’s 2024 budget performance as well as undermining the powers and integrity of the House.

The House also summoned the Managing Director, Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC operating mining site in Abuni, Awe LGA to appear before the House on Monday, 16th, December, 2024 over the company’s inability to fulfil Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the community as well as hazardous environment created by the company.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau gave the directive after Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, member representing Keana Constituency brought the issue under the matter of public interest during the House proceedings Wednesday in Lafia.

Speaker Jatau said that the Commissioner for Environment is not above the law, hence the need of his invitation.

” This House is working base on the rule of law and we must protect the interest of the state first and we are the voice of the voiceless.

” If His Excellency, Engr. A A Sule will appeared before this House to present the budget before Honourable Members.

” Then who is a Commissioner that will not appear before the House Committee to defend the budget, it is unfortunate, and we cannot take that, we must carry out serious actions against the person.

” It is in view of this that we are summoning the Environment Commissioner to appear before the House on Monday, 16th December, 2024 and failure to appear, we will know the next line of action to be taken” he said.

The Speaker said that the House under his watch would not allow anybody to undermined the integrity of the House.

Besides, the Speaker also summoned the Managing Director, Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC operating mining site in Abuni, Awe LGA to appear before the House on Monday, 16th, December, 2024 over the company’s inability to fulfill Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the community as well as hazardous environment created by the company.

His said that the invitation extended to the MD was to enable him explain why his company failed to adhere to international mining best practices and failure to adhere to Community Development Agreement with Abuni community.

Also speaking, Hon Musa Ekye, Hon Kudu Ajegana, Barr. Esson Mairiga, Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, Hon. Hudu A Hudu and Hon Onarigu Onah Kana among others supported the move for the Environment Commissioner and MD Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC to appear before the House.

They said that the constitution has empowered the House to oversight the activities of MDA.

They lamented on why Kwanta failed to appear before the House Committee on Housing and Environment to defend the ministry’s budget without cogent reasons.

The Lawmakers spoke extensively and bitterly over the attitude of the Commissioner towards the legislative institution stressing that any government officials found undermining the integrity of the House will be punished accordingly.

Earlier, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Chairman, House Committee on Housing and Environment while raising the issue said that the Environment Commissioner failed to appear before the committee to defend their 2024 budget performance.

He said that the committee invited the ministry to come for it budget performance but it failed to appear.

Hon. Omadefu also lamented on the condition being faced by the people of Abuni community as a result of mining exploration in the area.

He urged the House to invite the MD, Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC to appear before the committee to explain why he has failed in its Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development Agreement with the Community.

Omadefu spoke extensively on the concern issues of the company and the Environment Ministry calling on the House to do the needful on the matter to save the people and the integrity of the House.