Reps Pass Vote Of No Confidence On Buhari’s Minister

The House of Representatives has passed a vote of no confidence on Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, and Mr. Abubakar Bawa-Bwari, the Minister of State.

Both ministers were expected to appear before the House on Thursday but shunned the meeting.

They were to join the ongoing debate of the House of Representatives on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which is being presided over by Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House.

But to the surprise of the lawmakers, the ministers were not around when the debate began.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke afterwards expressed anger and frustration that the government officials are over-stepping their boundaries.

On his part, Mr Dogara said despite a second letter written to the ministry, insisting their presence is important, none of the ministry’s officials attended the event.

“Boycotting thus debate lends credence to the allegation against some top officials of the ministry of the plan to concession the Ajaokuta steel company,” he said.

Following the development, a no confidence motion was moved by the Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and it was unanimously passed.

“There are allegations against them (about reported move to concession the steel company) and this debate provides opportunity for a fair hearing,” Gbajabiamila said.

“There seems to be a lot more than we know. So, I think we should move from sectoral debate to a powerful investigate hearing.”

An ad-hoc committee was constituted to probe the steel company and the allegation that the ministry plans to concession it.