The House of Representatives Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (SCR) has resolved to sanction companies such as MTN and Airtel if they fail to live up to their corporate social responsibility.
The committee said it would bring in legislation to punish non-compliance in this regard. Chairman of the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Oby Ologbu, stated this at a public hearing in Abuja on Tuesday for a Bill to Regulate Corporate Responsibility.
He, however, issued a final warning to MTN and Airtel that arrest warrants could be issued if they fail to respond to the committee’s invitation. According to Ologbu, some companies operating in the country have been violating the law for years and therefore need to be punished.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the National Communications Commission, MTN, and Airtel, adding that they have repeatedly ignored the commission’s invitations.
The lawmaker said the commission has no option but to use its powers and issue arrest warrants.
“Section 89 of the constitution requires individual companies to present themselves to parliament, but they are violating the law. I want to say to MTN and Airtel, they have taken so much from our country and we feel they are too big to be in parliament, we will not tolerate that. We have given them the mandate to operate in Nigeria, so they cannot be allowed to turn down parliament’s invitations. We are against this.”
“I have taken all friendly steps to make it clear to them that they must appear before Parliament but they have refused.”
“If you feel responsible, you should appear before Parliament. We want you to be held accountable,” Ms Ologbu said.
She said they were operating from opposite sides of the country yet did not honour the invitation of Parliament and disrespected the same country.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Wondi Ndanusa, said the CBN supports the bill. He expressed concern over the proposed prison sentences for defaulting companies, saying they should be more persuasive.
Danusa also said many companies face a lot of financial burdens and responsibilities, adding that the proposed SCR should be established at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Head of the Oil Producers Trading Section, Bala Wowar, expressed concern that the PIA has already asked oil companies operating in Nigeria to pay three percent of their profits to the NDDC. He said it would be burdensome to ask them again, adding that oil companies should be exempt from the law.
