The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee invites FIRS, Chevcron, Shell, Others to appear before it.
By Raphael Ekpang
In it bid to sanitise the nation from continuous tax evasion by oil companies the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee Investigating the Structure and Accountability of the Joint Venture (JV) Businesses and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCS) of Nigerian Petroleum Corporation has accused oil companies of tax evasion.
The Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata who made this known, on Monday during the committee’s meeting with stakeholders at the National Assembly, noted that his committee relying on Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended will direct police and other security agencies to compel the heads of organizations who have failed to make their submission in respect of the ongoing investigation.
Hon. Fulata said the tax evasion by the oil companies particularly, the International Oil Companies (IOC) has led to the dwindling of oil revenue in the country.
He said despite several letters of invitation, some of the organizations have are yet to submit document to the committee. He said some of the invited organizations have submitted some documents but the committee found some gaps and further invited them in order to fill the gaps.
According to him, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Shell Nigeria Exploration Nigeria Ltd are among the organization to appear before the committee at the National Assembly tomorrow, Tuesday 1st November, 2022.
The committee also gave 7 days to 21 organizations to make their submission or risk being compelled to do so by the security agencies in line with section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
According to the committee, “the following organizations have not made any submission despite public notice and letter of invitation sent to them: (1). Central Bank of Nigeria; (2) First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Ltd; (3) Eroton Exploration and Production Company Ltd, (4) Ten Oil Petroleum & Energy Ltd; (5) Staoil Nigeria Ltd; (6) Belema Oil Producing Ltd; (7) Emo Exploration & Production Ltd, (8) Sterling Oil Exploration & Production; (9) Coinoil Petroleum Ltd; (10) Essar Exploration & Production Ltd; (11) Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Ltd and (12) GEC Petroleum Development Company.”Others are (13) Millennium Oil and Gas Company Ltd, (14) Newcross Petroleum; (15) West Africa Exploration & Production Company Ltd; (16) Nexen Petroleum Nigeria Ltd and Oil World Nigeria Ltd; (17) Sahara Energy Resources Ltd; (18) Amni International Petroleum Development Company Ltd; (19) Enageed Resources Ltd; (20) Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Ltd and (21) Gas Transmission and Power Ltd.”
