The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to test the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe for COVID-19 and report back within four days.
House Ad Hoc Committee Investigating the Non-Implementation of Pay As You GO Tariff Plan By Broadcast Satellite Providers took this decision Wednesday sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Julius Pondi (PDP, Delta) at the Commitee’s sitting.
The Multichoice CEO, John Ugbe who was to appear before the Committee and explain reasons for the non-implementation of the Pay as You Go and recent hike in DSTV/GOTV tariff wrote the Committee that he was ill and can not attend the investigative hearing.
The letter signed by the Head of Regulatory Affairs of Multichoice Nigeria, Gozie Onumonon on behalf of the CEO and dated July 22, 2020 read: “We regret to inform the Committee that we would be unable to appear before it today due to a sudden illness of our Chief Executive Officer, after arriving in Abuja yesterday for this meeting.
“Because of the abundance of caution needed to be taken in line with the current pandemic, we believe it is necessary that the meeting be deferred until he has regained his health and is cleared by his medical doctor.
“In the meantime, we will submit written submissions to the Committee to assist the Committee in its investigations.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the Committee and please be assured of our best efforts at all times”.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Unyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) who read the letter said the organization had requested the postponement of the meeting earlier scheduled for July 17 citing pre-scheduled engagements with its shareholders.
“We are here this morning pursuant to the resolution of the House of Representatives, mandating this Committee on the 17th March 2020, to investigate DSTV and other Cables TV in Nigeria on the non-implementation of the Pay as You Go.
“Again on the 2nd of June, 2020 House passed another resolution, mandating this Committee to invite DSTV (only) to explain why the recent hike in its tariff. Consequent upon this, the Clerk of this Committee after the unanimous decision of members of this Committee, raised a letter inviting DSTV to appear before this Committee to explain circumstances surrounding the recent hike and why Pay as You Go have not been implemented in Nigeria.
“DST having received that letter, wrote to us and explained that based on circumstances beyond their control they couldn’t come for the meeting. Today is the date they reschedule the meeting to that they are going to appear here and make presentations before this Committee and explain to Nigerians the way forward on the implementation of the Pay as You Go and also the recent price hike. Unfortunately, this morning as we were about to start the meeting, we received another letter from DSTV”, Idem stated.
Consequently, a Member of the Committee, Pondi moved that: “the NCDC should locate the CEO of Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe and make sure he is tested for COVID-19 since he alluded that he is having cough and not feeling well and report back to the House within four days”.
Contributing, another Member of the Committee, Prestige Ossy (APGA, Abia) said the CEO was taking the Committee for granted and called for appropriate sanctions against him.
“If he had written us or the Doctor where he is hospitalize, then we will talk about that. But where he is in his house and we are all here seated waiting for him to come and he didn’t sent any representative, this is the very height of neglect of parliamentary invitation and necessary sanctions should be invoke to make him appear as quickly as possible”.
Ruling, Committee’s Chairman, Uyime directed the Clerk to communicate the decision to the Director General of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu to locate Ugbe and test him for COVID-19 and trace his contracts.
