Nigerian House Committee Accuses Agencies of Evading Summons

Nigeria's House Committee on Public Petitions faces obstruction from some government ministries and agencies, which allegedly evade summons, according to committee Chairman Hon. Bitrus Kwamoti Laori. He stated that these actions impede the committee's ability to address citizen complaints effectively, sometimes requiring threats of arrest to secure appearances.

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Some of them will not allow until we threaten them with arrest before you see them appearing.

Since the start of the 10th legislative session, the committee has received a substantial 890 petitions. Of these, 200 have been formally addressed, and 70 have been resolved by the House of Representatives. Laori emphasized the committee's crucial role in promoting transparency, justice, and responsive governance, highlighting its function as a platform for citizens' grievances.

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So far, this committee has received 890 petitions from different segments of citizenry of this country, and we have successfully concluded 200 petitions.

The committee's work is vital for ensuring accountability within public institutions and bolstering public trust in democratic processes. Laori noted that the increasing volume and complexity of petitions reflect the public's confidence in the committee's fairness and transparency. However, he also pointed out that the committee sometimes handles personal domestic matters due to this perceived trustworthiness.

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Public Petitions Committee remains central to promoting transparency, justice, and responsive governance.

The committee's retreat, organized by the Policy and Legislative Advocacy Centre (PLAC), aimed to identify priority actions for consolidating outcomes and enhancing citizen engagement. PLAC Executive Director Mr. Clement Nwankwo underscored the committee's importance, particularly for human rights issues, and its accessibility to ordinary Nigerians who do not need to pay filing fees or always require legal representation.

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This committee is very important because, for the ordinary Nigerian, it’s the one committee where you do not have to pay filing fees or get a lawyer to appear for you if you don’t need one or can’t afford one.