By Ikenna Osuoha

The House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Auxiliary Matters has summoned the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure, to appear before it on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of State for FCT was summoned for allegedly failing to honour invitation by the committee session on FCT budget.

It was said out of the 14 agencies under her supervision, only three honoured the invitation.

The Committee Chairman, Rep. Fredrick Agbedi, handed down the summon in Abuja on Monday.

Agbedi, who decried the absence of the minister, warned that the parliament would invoke its parliamentary powers against the minister if she failed to appear on Tuesday.

He recalled that President Tinubu had asked them to expedite action on the budget.

The lawmaker expressed worry over the negligence of the minister to an all- important budget.

According to him, the minister was duly invited earlier together with the agencies under her jurisdiction.

Agbedi reminded the minister that the parliament and indeed the committee represented the indigenes and residents of the FCT.

“As a committee, we touch on the fabrics of the people of FCT because we are directly with the people.

“This committee is very very important to the people of FCT,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, called on President Tinubu to ensure that something was done urgently.

Earlier, Rep. Paul Kalejaye, representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos, described the minister’s absence as an affront on the parliament.

Kalejaye reminded the minister that the parliament had constitutional powers to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joe Idika