Bua Cement, Lafarge, Ibeto, Dangote Cement, and other cement manufacturers in the country on Tuesday, May 7, shunned the investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives on the rising cost of cement in the country.
The public hearing was organised by a joint Committee if the House made up of Committees of Solid Minerals, Industries, Commerce, and Special Duties following a motion adopted by the House to that effect.
The Nation gathered that the manufacturer had argued that the House Committees have no power to invite them and question them on their operations.
Even though The Nation could however confirm this assertion, the Joint Committee has however issued a 14-day ultimatum to the companies to appear before it.
But speaking at the commencement of the investigation, speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, said the exercise was not a form of a witch hunt, but a way of addressing the concerns in the sector and forestalling negative consequences on the nation.
The speaker said the event is a fall out of the deep concern and care the parliament has for the people they represent and the need to have a transparent engagement with all critical stakeholders in the cement industry, especially the manufacturers with the sole view of informing Nigerians what is exactly happening within this sector, and possibly come out with resolutions as to how we can navigate through and out of this.
The speaker said further that the unabated high cost of cement has impacted negatively not only on the built environment but also on the economy, adding that this is obvious because cement is the major component used for building and construction.
He said It is public knowledge that the Housing deficit in Nigeria is over three million (3,000.000) and therefore the need for the government and the private sector to close the huge gap in the price of cement must be affordable and within reach.
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He said: “While one may attribute the rise in prices of cement and of course other commodities to the exchange rates, it is commendable that the policies of this administration of the renewed hope mantra have started yielding fruits, as Naira has gained remarkable strength to a dollar in the last three weeks.
He assured that the parliament is working hard in putting the right legislation to help promote and encourage industrialization as well as small and medium enterprises in place, we are equally open and willing to work hand in hand both with manufacturers and the end users, this, in our belief, is the surest way to improve on the quality of life and standard of living of the citizens.
“We are equally leaving no stone unturned to putting the right laws in place that could help checkmate the avoidable excesses that brought us to where we are.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbwefi said there was the need to de-emphasize the notion created by some Companies that committees of Parliament have no powers to invite private outfits to appear before it.
He said: “It is on record that there is no Order of the Courts presented restraining the Committee from exercising its functions under section 88(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The committees of parliament have always set up Public Hearings to extract evidence from the Public to guide it in taking decisions on matters that have direct bearing on the citizens such as this.
“However, an entity recognised as private under the law does not oust in entirety the Powers of the Committee to investigate its affairs especially when the attainment of the objectives of said entity heavily relies on the Resources of the populace.
“Let me also reiterate the objectives of the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act sections 4,5,6 and 7 on the Powers of committees to invite, investigate and summon any person to extract evidence on any matter, whether it’s public or private. Most especially when the matter affects the citizens and the people for which they represent”.
The Nasarawa lawmaker said that a recent review of cement prices in other countries like Kenya, India and Zambia for 2021 alone shows that Nigeria has the highest price of cement using the official exchange rates for each Country.
He said: “Nigeria’s price of cement doubles that of India at a difference of 69%, similarly the price is 29% higher than that in Kenya and 39% higher in Zambia. Hence the need for us to come together and find out why. In order to bring succor to our citizens while protecting investors alike.
“Our concern is for all legitimate businesses especially cement production Companies in Nigeria to thrive and deliver their objective and services to the people in such a manner that can foster development.
“It is against this backdrop that I beckon all stakeholders once again to feel free and interact with the members of the parliament as this discussion may be what the sector has been longing for, to unlock the potentials and prospects of the future.”
