By ERICJAMES OCHIGBO

Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has inaugurated an ad hoc committee to probe alleged indiscriminate charges on salaries, mandatory contributions of civil and public servants as well as excessive bank fees impacting all Nigerians.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Tajudeen said that as representatives of the people, the house was entrusted with the duty of upholding transparency, accountability and fairness in the financial systems.

He said that the deductions faced by public servants raised serious concerns as it affected dedicated individuals working tirelessly for the nation and who should not bear the burden of unjust financial practices that diminished their earnings.

According to him, the issue of multiple bank charges erodes public trust and places an undue strain on citizens’ finances.

“The demands for transparency and fairness in banking cannot be ignored; they require our immediate attention.

“This committee will work diligently and with integrity, engaging stakeholders across various sectors to uncover the truth and provide actionable recommendations for reforms that protect the rights of our citizens,” he said.

The speaker said that the efforts was aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian’s voice was heard, while shaping a just financial landscape for future generations.

Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers), said that the task was to probe the nature and application of taxes, levies and salary deductions affecting civil and public servants, including any instance of non-remittance of the funds.

He said that the committee would scrutinise the range of bank charges imposed on customer accounts, including Value Added Tax (VAT) applicable to existing charges.

“We aim to identify any irregularity, recommend essential reforms and advocate for the rights of all Nigerians.

“We will evaluate the impact of these deductions and charges to ensure they are just and transparent.

“As we progress, we are prepared to make far-reaching and decisive recommendations, not minding whose ox is gored, and will not hesitate to utilise the full authority of the legislature when necessary,” he said.

Nwogu urged all stakeholders, especially industry experts, to engage in the investigation with open minds and a collaborative spirit, as their contributions were essential in the search for effective solutions. (NAN)