In a session held yesterday, the Senate expressed concerns about the perceived lack of experience demonstrated by Mr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals. This raised apprehensions about the future trajectory of untapped wealth within the ministry.
Summoned by the upper chamber’s Committee on Solid Minerals to appear next Wednesday, Alake faced criticism for disregarding previous invitations. The Senate threatened potential zero allocation in the 2024 budget if the Minister continued to neglect their summons.
Alake is anticipated to brief the Senate committee on the federal government’s strategy to develop the mining sector and combat illegal mining. The committee, dissatisfied with the Minister’s non-compliance, emphasized his recurrent excuses, such as traveling with Tinubu, and expressed concerns about his apparent neglect of the ministry’s crucial responsibilities.
The committee, chaired by Senator Sampson Ekong, declared its intention to withhold allocation in the 2024 fiscal year if Minister Alake did not address the issues raised. The committee urged the Minister to promptly respond to invitations and emphasized that accountability and transparency would be paramount.
Senator Ekong, at the meeting, issued a summons, highlighting the committee’s commitment to establishing legal frameworks that would positively impact the mining sector. He underlined the committee’s dedication to expeditiously processing the Bitumen bill, with plans to present it to the Senate for passage and subsequent transmission to the President for assent.
Legislative Vibes.