House of Representatives, yesterday, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her refusal to honour invitations from its Committee on Pensions.

Members of the committee also want the Finance Minister to explain her role in the take-over of Police Pension Fund and non-payment of pensions to retired officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force.

Chairman of the Committee on Pension, Ibrahim Kamba, read the decision of the committee after waiting for the minister for several hours without any apology for non-appearance.

He noted that it was obvious that the minister was not ready to appear to explain why the ministry took over Police Pension office without regard to Pension Reform Act.

He said: “We have been inviting the Minister of Finance over the problems of police pension. She has been holding the police pension and several police pensioners have died due to non-payment despite the fact that the National Assembly appropriated money in the 2012 fiscal year.

“Following her refusal, the committee is going to issue a warrant of arrest against the minister if she fails to attend the next meeting.

“We are going to give her a last opportunity. She has no right to neglect the summons of the committee. Many former IGs have not been paid. Sunday Ehindero and Sunday Adewusi and DIG Akeredolu have not been listed due to the take-over by the minister.

“We want to make the reason for our action clear to Nigerians. We hate playing with peoples lives. We have received some petitions from the police that many police pensioners are not paid.”

Prof Corruption: Long overdue. They should order her arrest. She is simply incompetent and disrespectful of constituted authority.

meksroland: you're just crazy and ivalid. Naija money doesn't belong to those group of criminals in the house. Due process must be followed before any damn money will be released. They're only angry when money is involved, but won't be angry when lives and properties are destroyed. Boko boys don't know what to do sha.

We have been inviting the Minister of Finance over the problems of police pension. She has been holding the police pension and several police pensioners have died due to non-payment despite the fact that the National Assembly appropriated money in the 2012 fiscal year.

Sunny_bobo: Hahaha! I so much love this woman with her reforms. The list of pensioners must be verified. It is common knowledge that up to 50% of the pensioners are ghost pensioners. This woman is doing wonders blocking a lit of loopholes and brainless Nigerians are calling for her sack. We all know how many billions is being saved from Police salary after the conclusion of biometric verification of policemen. Also, it is not by magic that the FIRS was able to generate 3.8 trillion naira in the 9 months ended September when their target for the whole year was 3.2 trillion naira. This woman has been blocking lots of loopholes and the thieves can't just stand her.

Prof Corruption:

Why can't Iweala go and state the same reasons you have itemized here?

kunlekunle:

its unconstitutional not to implement that aspect of the budget but virtuous to act as such.
still putting the report (defence) together

Prof Corruption:

Why can't Iweala go and state the same reasons you have itemized here?

Prof Corruption:

Well for you is virtuous, the law sees it as a punishable crime. I believe she should be arrested and possibly jailed for incompetence and unwarranted disrespect for constituted authority.

kunlekunle:

if you agree her act was virtuos, then she can argue that the constitution is immoral, since its a guide to our conduct.

Prof Corruption:

Do you have problem with English comprehension? "Well for you is virtuos" is easy enough to understand. Constitution is not a guide to our conduct. It's the highest law of the land. She should be punished appropriately for flouting the rules.

Sam Milla: Nigerians would have loved it more if the headline reads 'Reps issues arrest warrant against Okonjo-Iweala'
All this noise of coming to the media to tell us 'we have the right to arrest her' is useless. Express and explore the fcking rights and let the heaven fall.

kunlekunle:

thou grammarian,
if its the law, what dos the stands for in the land?
she has a right as a just citizen to refuse an immoral law (constitution).
if the constitution was found to be misguiding you can refute it and its not binding on such citizen.

i dont give a damn. (not guilty of the charge)

Sunny_bobo: Hahaha! I so much love this woman with her reforms. The list of pensioners must be verified. It is common knowledge that up to 50% of the pensioners are ghost pensioners. This woman is doing wonders blocking a lit of loopholes and brainless Nigerians are calling for her sack. We all know how many billions is being saved from Police salary after the conclusion of biometric verification of policemen. Also, it is not by magic that the FIRS was able to generate 3.8 trillion naira in the 9 months ended September when their target for the whole year was 3.2 trillion naira. This woman has been blocking lots of loopholes and the thieves can't just stand her.