Rep. La’ori Promises Swift Consideration of Petitions as House Receives Public Petitions Committee Report

By Emmanuel Kwada

Hon. Kwamoti B. La’ori, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, has vowed to ensure prompt and impartial handling of public petitions to bolster accountability and public trust in Nigeria’s legislative process. The pledge came as he presented ten Committee reports during Wednesday’s plenary session, addressing a range of grievances from citizens seeking justice.

Speaking to journalists after the session, La’ori emphasized the Committee’s commitment to 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 remain a beacon of hope and a channel through which the people are heard,” he stated.

The reports covered critical issues, including a petition by Ajets Surveys representing 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The petition alleges issues related to land acquisition, demolition, unlawful eviction, and compensation claims.

Another petition, filed by R. Opara & Co. Legal Practitioners against Precise Concept Investment and Engineering Company Limited and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, addressed the non-delivery of a residential unit at the PTAD Coop Estate in Apo, Abuja.

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

Additionally, a petition from the Tepng/Aks Main Community (MUO), representing paramount rulers, youths, and women from Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, and Mbo Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State, accused Total Energies Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) of excluding them from the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), in violation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Since assuming the Committee’s chairmanship on May 13, 2025, La’ori has prioritized clearing a backlog of petitions. He noted that while 15 reports were presented in February 2024, only five were considered by May. The ten reports laid on Wednesday mark significant progress in addressing pending petitions.

La’ori reaffirmed the Committee’s alignment with the 10th National Assembly’s priorities under Speaker Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D., GCON. “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,” he said.

The House adjourned plenary until September, leaving citizens hopeful that La’ori’s leadership will deliver timely justice through the petition process.

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