Amaechi Inaugurates Panel To Probe Suspended NPA Boss, Hazida Bala-Usman |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday, inaugurated a seven-man Panel of Inquiry to probe the suspended Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala – Usman.

The panel, reports say, is to examine and investigate the administrative and financial strategies adopted by her  in office, and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 till date.

The Minister, who spoke during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, noted that the Terms of Reference of the panel include examining and investigating issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and presidential directives.

“It will also 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.”

The Minister charged the panel to proffer suggestions and advice which would strengthen the operations of NPA and forestall such occurrences in future, and any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment.

Members of the panel include Suleiman Auwalu, Director, Maritime Services and Chairman of the team; Ben Omogo, Director, Organisation Design and Development, Co-Chairman.

Others include Hussani Adamu, Director, Procurement; Blessing Azorbo, Director, Legal Services; Mercy Ilori, Director, Transport Planning Coordination; Muhly-deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management; and Gabriel Fan, Deputy Director, Legal Services, who serves as the secretary of the committee.

Also, three employees of Human Resources Management are to serve as secretariat staff of the committee.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in an action which took many by surprise, last week, suspended Ms. Bala-Usman from office based on a letter written to the President by her Supervisory Minister, Amaechi, complaining about a number  of alleged untidy issues.