“… warns against undermining the powers of the house by any government, non governmental establishments, group or individual…”
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Environment says, it would invoke all the relevant sections of the constitution to invite Ganfeng Lithium Industry LTD, in Udege, Nasarawa LGA of the State to appear before the House over underrating the powers of the Assembly as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The committee also said that it would summon the State Officer of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to explain to it whether the House has know right to inspect or invite a mining company operating in the State or not.
Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Chairman of the Committee stated this when he led other members of the committee to oversight the activities of the company and other mining companies in Udege, Nasarawa LGA, Monday.
Hon. Omadefu, who lamented over failure of the company to allow the committee oversight it activities, said the law would take it course on the matter.
” We are not here to witchunt the company but we are here to exercise our constitutional responsibilities.
“Section 20 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has empowered the State Legislature to have power on its environment, Air and Water.
“We will invoke all the relevant sections of the constitution to compel the company and the State Officer of Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to appear before the House on the issue” he said.
Hon. Omadefu told the company that it was in receipt of a petition against the company.
Earlier, Mr Henry, Manager of Business Department, Ganfeng Lithium Industry LTD Said that the company was in receipt of official letter from Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, that it should not allow any organization have access to its facilities without official notification from Federal Mines Officer (FMO) Lafia.
In a related development, the committee also visited Kenyang Mining Co LTD, Udege to oversight on the company’s activities where it carried out the exercise successfully.
Hon. Omadefu, the Chairman of the Committee said that the visit was part of the House constitutional responsibilities to oversight the activities of mining companies operating in the State.
“We are here to see things for ourselves in order to ensure that mining companies adhered to mining international best practices.
“And also to ensure that the companies are adhering to Community Development Agreement (CDAs) for the overall development of the communities” he said.
He advised both the company and the community against five years Community Development Agreements (CDAs) saying that CDAs should be time bond.
“In writing CDAs, you tide down the company. The CDAs supposed to be time bond or timing” he said.
The Committee Chairman assured of the House continuous readiness to ensure that activities of MDAs and other organizations are checked to ensure right things are done for the betterment of the State.
Mr Miller XU, the General Manager, Kenyang Mining Co LTD Said that the company is adhering to its Community Development Agreements (CDAs) for the benefit of the Odu, Udege, Eyenu and Agbazo communities.
He said that they have distributed fertilizers to farmers and award scholarship to students of tertiary institutions of the community.
The General Manager appreciated the committee for the visit and assured of their readiness to continue to do the right things at all times.
Also speaking, Mr Job D Osu, the Chairman, Mining Committee, Udege confirmed that the company has distributed fertilizers and award scholarship to the communty.
Furthermore, the Committee also visited Avatar New Energy Materials Co LTD to oversight the activities of the company.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Mohammed Adamu Omadefu urged the company to get all its documents ready for assessment by the committee on a day to be communicated.
Earlier, the Site Manager, Avatar New Energy Materials Co LTD, Mr Yong while welcoming the members of the committee assured of good working relationship.