The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti B. La'ori, has pledged prompt and fair consideration of petitions from the general public as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and citizens’ trust in the legislative process.
Hon. La'ori made the commitment while addressing journalists shortly after laying ten (10) reports from the Committee before the House during plenary on Wednesday. He emphasized that the Committee under his leadership is committed to ensuring that all petitions are treated with fairness, transparency, and urgency.
> "Our goal is to restore and sustain public confidence in the petition process as a reliable tool for justice and accountability. The legislature must always remain a beacon of hope and a channel through which the people are heard," he said.
The reports presented by the Committee cover a wide range of issues brought before the House by petitioners seeking redress and legislative intervention.
Among the reports laid was a petition submitted by Ajets Surveys on behalf of 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) concerning land acquisition, demolition, unlawful eviction, and compensation claims.
Also included was a petition by R. Opara & Co. Legal Practitioners against Precise Concept Investment and Engineering Company Limited and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria over the failure to deliver a residential unit at the PTAD Coop Estate in Apo, Abuja.
Another petition came from Tepng/Aks Main Community (MUO) on behalf of paramount rulers, youths, and women of Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, and Mbo Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State against Total Energies Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The petitioners alleged non-inclusion in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Hon. La’ori, who assumed chairmanship of the Committee on May 13, 2025, noted that since the inauguration of the Committee in June 2023, a total of 15 reports were laid before the House in February 2024, of which only five (5) were considered in May 2024.
He pointed out that the ten (10) reports laid on Wednesday mark a significant step forward in clearing the backlog and ensuring that petitioners receive timely responses.
Reiterating his dedication to service, La’ori affirmed that the Committee's work will continue to reflect the values and priorities of the 10th National Assembly, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D., GCON, Speaker of the People's Parliament.
> "We are committed to ensuring that no petition is ignored, delayed, or dismissed unjustly. Every voice matters, and we will work tirelessly to make sure the people's concerns receive the attention they deserve," La’ori concluded.
The House adjourned plenary until September.
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