The House of Representatives Committee investigating the implementation of corporate social responsibility by multinational oil companies operating in the South Zone has threatened to drag in the mug the image of the companies operating in the region but has refused to honour the invitation from the committee.
The Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Lilian Orogbu, who spoke at the resumed hearing of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, expressed displeasure about the attitude of some of the companies, saying that they were being disrespectful to the National Assembly.
The Chairman of the Committee lamented that some of the companies have been ignoring invitations from the Committee, adding that after three other invitations, the committee would be left with no option but to invoke the powers of the parliament on the affected companies.
According to her, “We don’t know who you are. This committee was formed to investigate petitions coming from the places where you operate a series of petitions coming from your host communities. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody, not by any means.
“We are here to work together to see that your operations are carried out with a sense of responsibility and that those communities where you operate feel happy that they are also benefiting from these companies operating in their midst.
“We are all talking about building a new Nigeria, while the Presidency is talking about a renewed hope agenda. We need to give hope to our citizens.
“The committee report will be prepared very soon, and we won’t want your companies to be indicted. In the next few days, you are going to see me on Channels TV discussing the host community issues, the company issues, and how these companies have been handling the host community issues. I am sure you won’t want your companies to be mentioned.
“If that does not mean anything to you, by the time we begin to invoke the powers of the National Assembly and the powers of the Constitution on your companies, I am sure you won’t like it.
“We are here to work with you, and in the area where you are not meeting up, the committee will advise you to do the needful, and we will come on sight to oversee what you are doing. But don’t make us look as if we are witch-hunting you.
“But if we find out that your company has become a troublesome company to this committee, I will give everything I have, and the committee will use all its powers to fight back. So please, we would want you to conduct yourself in the most appropriate manner expected of companies of your repute.”.
While saying that the hearing was a follow-up to the one earlier held on the 6th of March, Prof. Orogbu said the meeting was part of efforts being undertaken to ascertain the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by multinational oil companies and other corporate bodies operating in the South-South zone.
According to her, “It is an incontrovertible fact in Nigeria that the south-south region is the lifeblood of our nation’s economy, rich in natural resources and brimming with potential.
“However, alongside this bounty comes responsibility—a responsibility for corporate bodies to ensure their operations contribute positively to the socio-economic and environmental well-being of this region in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.”
The investigation, she said, was to find out how efficiently companies integrate CSR principles into their operations, whether local communities benefit from the presence of corporate bodies, and determine the balance between resource extraction and environmental sustainability.
She said, “These findings will be instrumental in shaping future policies and fostering a more responsible and sustainable business environment in the South.
“I urge all participating companies to approach this process with transparency and commitment to the nation. We want to work with you, not against you, to create a win-win situation where businesses flourish along with thriving and empowered communities.
“For those multinational companies and corporate bodies operating in the South who have disrespectfully ignored this Joint Committee’s invitations for this strategic steering meeting consecutively, the Joint Committee wishes to unequivocally state that it will employ all the constitutional means at its disposal, including the invocation of Section 89(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to compel them to appear before the Committee.
“I am optimistic that this investigation will be a catalyst for positive change in the South-South and a model for responsible corporate conduct throughout our nation, Nigeria.”.
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