The House of Representatives committee investigating the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility by multinational oil companies operating in the south-south zone has threatened to sanction the companies operating in the region but refused to honour the invitation from the committee.
She said: “We don’t know who you are. This committee was formed to investigate petitions coming from those places where you operate. Series of petitions coming from your host communities. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody, not by any means. “The committee report will be prepared very soon and we won’t want your companies to be indicted. In the next few days, you are going to see me on Channels TV discussing the host community issues, the company issues and how these companies have been handling the host community issues. I am sure you won’t want your companies to be mentioned.
“But if we find out that your company has become a troublesome company to this committee, I will wield everything I have and the committee will use all its powers to fight back. So please, we would want you to conduct yourself in the most appropriate manner expected of companies of your repute”.While saying that the hearing was a follow-up to the one earlier held on the 6th of March, Prof.
The investigation she said was to find out how efficient are companies integrating CSR principles into their operations, whether Local Communities benefit from the presence of the corporate bodies and determine the balance between resource extraction and environmental sustainability. “I urge all participating companies to approach this process with transparency and commitment to the nation. We want to work with you, not against you to create a win-win situation where businesses flourish along thriving and empowered communities.