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N9trn PenCom Fund: Reps threatens to issue bench warrant on PFAs, others
House of Representatives threatens to issue a bench warrant to compel Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to appear before its ad hoc committee, if they fail to attend the public hearing on April 4.
Rep Johnson Agbonayinma (APC-Edo), Chairman, Ad hoc Committee to Investigate the Activities of National Pension Commission (PenCom) and its Administrators, gave the warning on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nationaltrail reports that the House had, after a resolution passed in Feb., ordered the committee to commence investigations into the activities of PenCom since April 2017 over allegation of violation of the Act establishing the commission and the N9 trillion pension fund controversy.
However, the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOP) had, in two separate letters dated Jan. 28 and April 2, informed the committee that the PFAs would not be able to appear before the committee on Jan. 29 and April 4.
PenOp had, in the letters, attributed the reason the PFAs would not attend the meetings ”to prior engagements slated for the same day.”
Agbonayinma, who cautioned the PFAs against disobeying the order of the House, said the PFAs and other stakeholders in the industry were deliberately avoiding the ad hoc committee.
According to him, the pension association, which the committee did not write letters to or invite, has no right to derail the lawmakers from holding the investigative hearing.
”If they fail to appear before the committee, we would have no option than to apply the law.
”That is, we would have to seek to issue bench warrant so that they can be compelled to come to appear before this ad-hoc committee.
”We would do just that to PFAs that refused to appear before this ad hoc committee ànd any organisation, not just the PFAs that are invited but the banks and PenCom,” he said.
The lawmaker, who expressed concern over the development, said the committee would not succumb to any deliberate effort to undermine the committee’s work.
”We have been having different issues; people trying to avoid coming to the public hearing.
”We had our first public hearing. In order for us to continue with our investigations that was slated for Thursday, I believe some people are trying to derail the wheel of the progress of our ad hoc committee.
”We invited different PFAs, we invited the PenCom, the acting DG, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and many civil societies who submitted document related to the subject matter.
”We never invited the so-called Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp).
”But we are surprised to be receiving letters; the first one we received before our public hearing telling us that the PFAs will not be able to attend under the umbrella of PenOp.
”There was no time this ad hoc committee wrote a letter to PenOp. They have been representing the various PFAs we have invited, the administrators, some of the banks and the custodians of the funds,” he said.
Agbonayinma said the committee was surprised to receive another letter from the association on April 3 ”writing to us that the pension operators will not be able to attend the investigative hearing slated for tomorrow (April 4).”
The legislator, who condemned the act, described the move as ”a plot to derail the wheel of progress of the ad hoc committee.”
”This has to do with the Nigerian people, the workers who have worked and deserved to make sure that whatever money is deducted from their accounts should be put to use and the PenCom must do the needful,” he said.
He, however, hinted that since no one has been indicted, the public hearing was ”to serve as an opportunity for the stakeholders to clear the air on issues raised and assure Nigerians that nothing is amiss.”
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet amid a growing controversy surrounding his academic credentials.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation in a statement issued late Tuesday.
Nnaji’s exit follows mounting allegations that his academic certificates were forged. Investigations revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he claimed to possess, stating that he never completed his studies at the institution and was therefore not issued any certificate.
According to UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but failed to meet the requirements for graduation.
In a related development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly disowned the certificate of national service presented by Nnaji, describing it as fake.
His resignation marks the latest in a series of controversies to hit the Tinubu administration over questions of integrity and accountability among public officials.
INEC chairman, prof. Mahmood Yakubu has concluded his second tenure as INEC chairman today.
After ten years in office, prof. Mahmood yakubu handed over to inec national commissioner, May Agbamuche Mbu, as acting INEC chairman, pending the appointment of a new INEC chairman by the president.
The handing over was made during a meeting with resident electoral commissioners
Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Collapse
Tensions in the Middle East have surged once again as Israel carried out a series of heavy airstrikes on Gaza late Sunday night, following the collapse of ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
According to international reports, the strikes targeted areas suspected of housing Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons storage sites, and command centers. Witnesses described powerful explosions that lit up the night sky, with plumes of smoke and debris rising across Gaza City. Emergency responders have been racing to rescue civilians trapped under the rubble, while hospitals struggle to cope with a growing number of casualties.
The Palestinian health ministry reported several deaths and dozens of injuries, though the exact figures remain unclear amid the chaos.
The renewed violence follows weeks of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at achieving a durable ceasefire and improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Sources close to the negotiations said discussions collapsed over disputes concerning prisoner swaps, border access, and security assurances.
Israeli officials said the airstrikes were a “necessary response” to continued rocket attacks from Gaza, while Hamas vowed swift retaliation.
The United Nations, the European Union, and several world leaders have called for restraint and a resumption of dialogue to prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider conflict. Meanwhile, civilians on both sides continue to bear the brunt of the violence—facing blackouts, food shortages, and growing fear as hopes for peace once again fade.
Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms
BREAKING: Tinubu’s Minister, Uche Nnaji, Resigns Amid Certificate Forgery Scandal
INEC Chairman, Yakubu Hands Over
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