The House of Representatives tripartite committees, which are investigating the implementation of corporate social responsibility by multinational oil companies and other corporate bodies in the South-South region, have warned that they will issue warrants for the arrest of company leaders who fail to comply with their summons.
Professor Obiageli Lilian Orogbu, the chairperson of the tripartite committees, expressed displeasure over the absence of several major oil companies at the investigative hearing held in Abuja.
Professor Orogbu cautioned that she, along with her co-chairpersons and all committee members, would take decisive action against any organization that disregarded the investigative panel.
“The House has asked us to carry out this exercise based on quantum of petitions from host communities against most of you and we will not take kindly to any organization that decides to undermine this assignment,” she warned.
Orogbu, who had in her opening remarks emphasized that the essence of the investigative hearing was borne out of genuine intention of the parliament to see that corporate bodies operating in Nigeria kept to the best practices of corporate and environmental behaviours within their host communities, acknowledged that reports at the disposal of the parliament showed that a lot of the companies were lagging behind in this regard.
She said: “We want to see a change and also ensure that what you do as corporate social responsibility to your hosts are commensurate with the level of businesses you do.
”Some of you observe corporate social responsibility in other countries you operate but you fail to do same here because nobody cares.
“We want a new Nigeria and we need you to work together with the government to rebuild this country. I know that some of you are doing quite well but there are many of you that are not responsible enough.”
Members also expressed dissatisfaction that the companies present at the hearing did not bring evidence of their contributions to their host communities.
Due to this, the meeting has been postponed to a later date, and the secretariat will notify them accordingly.
The committees participating in the investigative hearing are focused on corporate social responsibility, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and host communities.
Among the companies present at the hearing were Dubri Oil company, Lee Engineering, Equinor Oil, Famfa Oil, Sahara Group, Network E&P Ltd, Monipulo Ltd, GreenVille LNG, Chirus Energy, Seplat Energy, Roviigs Ltd, and Chevron.