The Senate, through its Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bared its fangs Monday on the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, for not appearing before it as earlier promised.
Consequently, the committee rejected to accept representation of the Minister of State for Works Abubakar Aliyu, on Fashola’s behalf.
The chairman of the committee, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, said the panel had no choice but to reject any submissions from the Minister of State who was before the committee to represent Fashola.
Binani insisted that most of the replies to correspondences the committee exchanged with the ministry were personally signed by Fashola.
She also said the issues for which the committee “is seeking clarification took place when Fashola was Minister of Power, Works and Housing; hence, he is the only one competent to shed light on them.
The committee chair frowned on a situation where the minister decided to travel after agreeing on the session with the committee only to send the Minister of State to represent him.
The committee unanimously resolved to turn down the Minister of State and adjourned to await Fashola by 2pm, but the minister did not show up at the end of the day.
Earlier, the Minister of State extended the apologies of Fashola to the committee who he said had travelled for an urgent national assignment, adding that he was sent by Fashola to stand in for him and address the concerns of the committee.
A member of the Committee, Teslim Folarin (APC, Oyo Central), said it was wrong for Fashola to have travelled without appearing before the committee despite the president’s directive barring ministers from travelling or absenting themselves from the budget defence sessions at the National Assembly.
However, in apparent reply to the remarks by Folarin, the Minister of State said Fashola duly sought clearance and the permission of the president to embark on the journey.
Also speaking, Senator Godiya Akwashiki said the committee was unanimous that Fashola should appear before it in person.
Other members of the committee present at the session included Adedayo Adeyeye; Danladi Sankara; Lekan Mustapha, and Gabriel Suswam.