The House of Representatives committee on Federal Character has threatened to sanction the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), over its inability to appear before the committee.
Chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Idris Wase CON, while speaking at the resumed hearing of the committee on Thursday, expressed his displeasure for FIRS failing to appear before the committee after it has been summoned for two different occasions.
He said the committee is empowered by sections 14(3)(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which stated that the committee shall investigate the composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.
The committee which is saddled with the responsibility of probing level of compliance with the balancing provision in the recruitment of staff by ministries, departments and agencies of government threatened to invoke relevant sections of the Constitution if FIRS failed to appear before it on or before 6th of August 2024.
Wase who is also the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, condemned the action of the leadership of the FIRS and insisted that they must appear before the expiration of the ultimatum given to them, noting that the parliament will not tolerate such behaviour.
“Failure to appear, the committee will be forced to take other measures to compel them to appear, this is their last chance, the committee has taken sufficient trash from them, this is more than what we can tolerate. Failure to appear on the exact date, the committee shall invoke all its constitutional powers to compel them to appear, “he said.