The Minister and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari, have attacked the House of Representatives for passing a Vote of No Confidence on them.
The House on Thursday passed the resolution following their absence from a sectoral debate on the iron and steel sector.
However, Fayemi and Bwari said the House was duly notified of their absence from the debate.
In the statement signed by Fayemi’s spokesman, Yinka Oyebode, the Ministers said the position of the House showed that the members lacked tolerance and moderation.
The statement by Oyebode reads in full: “The attention of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, has been drawn to the “Vote of No Confidence” reportedly passed on them by members of the House of Representatives following their inability to attend the House’s Sectoral Debate on Iron and Steel Sector on Thursday, March 1, 2018.
“While the offices of the two ministers have been inundated with countless media enquiries regarding their absence shortly after the pronouncement, it is important to state unequivocally that the inability of the two ministers to attend the debate was duly communicated to the leadership of the House in two separate letters.
“One then wonders why the House members took such a draconian stance against the two Ministers who have very cordial relationships with the National Assembly.
It is rather unfair for the House members to categorise the Ministers absence as ‘boycott’, when they were adequately notified.
“Tolerance and moderation are essential ingredients in public service engagement. In this particular case, they appear to be in short supply and the ministry believes that there is more than meets the eye on this matter.
“After all, the Ministers are always willing to engage the honourable House and its leadership at all times. It is on record that Minister Fayemi was the first Minister to address the sectoral debate in 2016 and the Ajaokuta Steel Complex was extensively addressed on that occasion.
“Subsequently, the House Committees on Privatisation and Public Petitions held special sessions on Ajaokuta and the Minister of State, Hon Bawa Bwari addressed the members on those two occasions.
“Given this past record, today’s action is most unwarranted and unfortunate.”
LETTER TO HOUSE OF REPS 1 LETTER TO THE HOUSE OF REPS 2