NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari was walked out of a House of Representatives tax reform hearing for failing to submit his presentation on time. Committee Chairman James Faleke ruled that Kyari could return later with the required documents. The incident highlights tensions over Nigeria’s ongoing tax policy reforms.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, faced an unexpected dismissal from a House of Representatives finance committee hearing on Wednesday after failing to submit his presentation on time.
The committee, led by Chairman James Faleke, had invited the NNPC to provide its input on key tax reform bills under review. However, as Kyari took the podium to begin his remarks, Faleke interrupted him, questioning whether the NNPC had submitted its proposal as required.
Kyari admitted that amendments were still being made to the memorandum and assured the panel that the updated version would be sent later. His response was met with firm resistance, as Faleke ruled that no presentation could proceed without prior submission.
"You can come back Thursday or Friday when you are ready," Faleke stated, effectively ending the session for the NNPC boss. With no room for further discussion, Kyari left the hearing.
The incident occurred as lawmakers reviewed four critical tax reform bills: the Nigeria Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, and Nigeria Revenue Service Bill. These bills have already passed a second reading in both legislative chambers, with public hearings scheduled throughout the week.
The House committee had made it clear that all stakeholders were expected to submit their documents in advance. With Kyari’s abrupt exit, NNPC’s stance on the proposed tax reforms remains uncertain, raising questions about its future engagements with lawmakers.
As deliberations continue, industry watchers will be keen to see how this episode impacts the broader tax policy discussions in Nigeria.
