Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday inaugurated an 11-member investigative panel to probe the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over all contracts awarded under Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director.
The panel, which is headed by Auwal Suleiman, director of maritime services, transportation ministry, has six members from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and five from the Ministry of Transportation.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday suspended Bala Usman as managing director of NPA and approved the setting up of a panel of inquiry based on Amaechi’s recommendation.
Usman was suspended over alleged failure of NPA to remit an outstanding balance of N165.32 billion from 2016 t0 2018.
Amaechi tasked the members of the panel to accurately examine procurement processes in NPA from 2016 to date.
The terms of reference of the panel include: “examine and investigating the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the managing director of NPA and confirming compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 to date.
“Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and presidential directives.
“Examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtained in the public service.
“Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date. Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of Nigerian Ports Authority and forestall such occurrences in future.”
