Reps clash with minister over NITDA DG suspension

folarin okunola

January 27, 2016 9:49 AM

The minister appeared before the joint committee claiming not to have any knowledge of why he had been summoned by the committees.

Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu

According to media reports, the Joint Committees of Information Technology Communication, ICT and Telecommunications in the House of Representatives on Tuesday queried Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications over a comment he made on the suspension of Peter Jack, director – general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) who is currently being investigated over alleged misconduct.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that the minister appeared before the joint committee claiming not to have any knowledge of why he had been summoned by the committees.

READ: FG rejects telecom giants out of court settlement

The report further reveals that Shittu, even after being told by committee member Mohammed Onawo that he had been summoned to look into the allegations levelled against the NITDA DG, went on to ask the committees to let him take his leave as he had an international conference, which was taking place at the same time, to attend.

This infuriated the committee members who took turns lambasting the Minister. At this point, reports reveal that the meeting went into a closed door session as journalists were excused.

Last week, the House of Representatives had faulted the minister over the suspension of the NITDA DG, Mr. Peter Jack, over alleged misconduct.

folarin okunola