AKHA Summons MD, Management Staff of WISCHINO Construction Firm

as WISCHINO and Julius Berger snub AKHA for the second time.

Abigail Isaac

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through her Committee on Appropriation and Finance has summoned the Managing Director and entire Management Staff of WISCHINO ENGINEERING COMPANY and JULIUS BERGER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY as the two Companies snub Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Invitation for the second time.

The Assemby's heavy axe fell on the two defaulting companies during the second day of the Committee's investigative hearing with companies operating in the State on issues concerning payee and withholding taxes remittance to State Government in consonance with their Staffs strength and their emolument, effectively. 

It is on record that the committee had earlier invited WISCHINO ENGINEERING COMPANY and JULIUS BERGER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY to appear before members of the Committee Monday February 1, 2021 where the two companies failed to comply as requested. 

In a worst case scenario, the Committee was stretched to its limit today, when WISCHINO ENGINEERING COMPANY sent her Tax Consultant to appear before the committee, who by all indications has little or no knowledge about the Company's work progress at internal road construction projects in Oron and Etinan Eket road construction, being the two projects currently handled by the company in the State. 

In it's reaction, the Committee, through her Chairman, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh and Member representing Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo State Constituency outrightly condemned actions and nonchalant attitudes of the Company and summoned the MD and the entire managerial staffs to appear before Appropriations and Finance Committee.

The committee warned that failure to respond to the final summon, the company will leave them with no option than imploring all its Legislative powers against the company, as the Committee perceived such lackadaisical and aloof behaviours as a clear insult to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and entire Akwa Ibom State. 

On his part, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset and Member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency who is a member of the Committee, frowned at the attitude of the Companies, adding that, it is a clear insult and disrespectful for the companies to treat invitations from the Assembly with levity.

Also, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency observed that the representative of the Company lacks competency to furnish the Committee with accurate and informed information and wondered why a Company should pride itself in snubbing invitations from the Legislature. 

The presentation by the Company was however, declared inclusive by the Committee. 

Similarly, Managing Director of Ibom Power, Mr. Mmenyene Etukudoh, and Managing Director Universal Energy, Mrs. Nkoyo Etuk appeared before the committee and their presentations were equally adjudged inclusive and were urged to reappear before the Committee on a later date.

Other companies billed to appear before the Committee today were: Base Engineering Company and Bulletin Construction Company. The two companies through letters to the committee requested for leave of absent to appear before the committee next Monday.

Members of the committee present during today's interactive session with companies were: Rt. Hon. (Otuekong) Emmmanuel Bassey, Hon. Victor Ekwere, and Rt. Hon. Effiong Bassey.

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