Budget ‘padding’: An opportunity for change?

 By Ochereome Nnanna 

QUARRELS in the legislative chamber are neither new nor strange. They are universal phenomena. They range from hot exchanges of words to fisticuffs. Maces are often broken, chairs thrown, clothes torn and blood drawn. It did not start today.

The boil-over of the crises of the defunct Western Region started when the mace was broken and police had to intervene to separate a fight between the supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Akintola. We have seen how a lawmaker, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, “maced” the head of his colleague, Hon. Michael Chinda in the Rivers State House of Assembly in July 2013. Hon. Dino Melaye’s clothes were torn to shreds in a fracas in June 2010. Hon. Sidi H Ali pulled a gun on his colleagues over a sharia debate in the Second Republic and Hon. Aminu Safana died in a fight in the House of Reps in October 2007. Created with Tagul.com If you check these events, you will discover how money (or corruption) has degraded our legislative culture over the years. The 1962 fracas in the Western House and the Second Republic episode were, kind of, connected with loyalty and ideology. But all the fights in the legislature since 1999, including the numerous instances not mentioned here were tussles for power because power is MONEY.

When the APC Federal Government assumed power in May last year, party leaders (especially the main stakeholders in the merger that begat the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) decided to impose their handpicked choices to lead the two chambers of the National Assembly. But elements within and outside the APC challenged the imposition. Thus, Senator Bukola Saraki stepped forward to contest for President of the Senate and Hon. Yakubu Dogara went for the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

These were elements of the “new” Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, which changed the political equation in Nigeria when they joined the fledgeling APC merger put together by Buhari and Tinubu. Fronting for Saraki in the Senate like Goliath at the vanguard of the Philistines was Dino Melaye, a legislative “war veteran”. On the side of Dogara in the House was Hon. Adbulmumin Jibrin, the Kano-born legislative hothead who takes no prisoners when he fights.

They defended their principals before, during and after the 9th June 2016 National Assembly inauguration. As a reward for his role in the struggle, Dogara handed over the prestigious (or “juicy”) Committee on Appropriation to Jibrin. This was probably a pre-negotiated pact. All was quiet while the going was good. Jibrin settled down to give himself the benefits of his support for Dogara.

His colleagues in the Committee accused him of shutting them out while he “single-handedly” removed funds allocated to the proposed Lagos – Calabar railway project and transferred them to his own favoured projects in his native Kano State, and more specifically to himself.

The complaints from disgruntled members put so much pressure on Dogara that he realised that his very position was at stake unless he did something about his former Goliath, Jibrin. So, he bowed to pressure and removed Jibrin. Hon. Jibrin now unleashed his fighting talents on Dogara and everyone else. He had got wind of the plan to remove him, so he approached Dogara before hand and offered to resign.

However, no evidence has been proffered to show he actually submitted a resignation letter. Jibrin has gone to radio, television, newspaper houses and the social media in a campaign for the probe, prosecution and removal of Dogara and other principals officers. He did not stop there.

He also sent petitons to the Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC. Emboldened by Jibrin’s fire-eating antics against a constituted authority he once defended with all his might, elements in the House that calls itself the Transparency Group, which says it is committed to the elimination of the age-old practice of “budget padding” in the National Assembly, has reportedly collected 100 signatures calling for the investigation of Dogara and other principal officers of the House of Representatives, including, of course, Jibrin. Some legislators and legal opinion leaders believe that since the Legislature is constitutionally empowered to appropriate funds, it is technically incapable of “padding” budgets. As I see it, this storm in the House of Representatives has provided an opportunity for the APC Federal Government to effect Change in the way the Legislature has treated public finance in the name of power to appropriate funds. What exactly is this?

Does it mean the lawmakers have the right to radically change the budget proposal sent to it by Executive and move allocations just as they like? If the interests of a multi-party legislature clashes with the vision/interests of a ruling party and the government it produced, which one should hold sway when it comes to the allocation of funds to projects in the budget?

As I see it, anything put in the budget by any lawmaker after the Appropriation Bill has been passed for the assent of the Chief Execuitve is a criminal act, and the culprit must be punished. Secondly, the appropriation committee MUST work together and present their work for the consideration of the general House. Any act of shutting out members is a rape on transparency and amounts to an attempt to commit a criminal act. The budget is a law governing the spending of public fund.

Public officers must be held accountable for the way they handle public fund, even years after they have left office. The invitation of the anti-graft agencies and ultimately the Judiciary to determine where the Legislature’s power of approptiation starts and stops will help put an end to the eternal squabbles between the Legislature and the Executive.

This could prove beneficial to our democracy. It is true that the abuse of the budgeting process is as old as our renascent democracy. During the President Olusegun Obasanjo years, many ministers were disgraced for bribing federal lawmakers to spike their allocations. But on the whole, the National Assembly enjoyed a measure of independence during the PDP years in power. Some say this enabled lawmakers to enrich themselves through the abuse of their power of appropriation and oversight.

With Buhari’s anti-graft war, virtually every aspect of Legislative activities is now subject to the scrutiny of the anti-graft agencies and the courts. Jibrin’s petitions have handed the National Assembly over to the Exective branch which can now use the Attorney General of the Federation, the anti-graft agencies and the courts to hold the Legislature to account for the way it carries out its power of budget appropriation. Because of this fight-to-finish, the National

Assembly has voluntarily surrendered its once prized independence to the Executive. This will have several dramatic effects. Number one is that for the first time, budget abusers will be detected and prosecuted. Those found culpable will lose their plum positions. The Executive will thus achieve its original wishes of getting these unwanted officials out and imposing the handpicks of the President and party leaders to head the National Assembly. Though it might minimise corruption in the budgeting process, the Legislature may no longer be able to take its independence for granted. The Legislature might eventually become a rubberstamp for the

Executive, and this could increase civilian dictatorship. If this takes place, it will be a legacy of the APC regime. It is left to be seen if the President and the Party will be willing to cash in on this opportunistic opening. There are, however, indications that the Party is already wading in, perhaps to treat the issue as a “family affair,” PDP style.

“Leave Sen. Kashamu Alone” APW Warns NDLEA

The Association of Parliamentary Writers APW has warned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA to leave Sen. Buruji Kashamu alone.

The association made this known in a press statement to newsmen in Abuja yesterday stressing that any attempt by the NDLEA to arrest Sen. Kashamu or abduct him will be met with dire consequences which the agency will not find easy.

The statement signed by Barr. Kingsley Eze Frank said it will be an abuse of due process for the anti-narcotics agency to arrest or abduct the Senator representing Ogun East senatorial District using whatever guise. It said considering the fact there is a subsisting Federal High Court judgment against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA from arresting the senator and a Senate directive that also restrained the NDLEA from arresting him, “the agency will be acting against instructions and order of legitimate institutions of state by arresting or abducting a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for whatsoever reason.

The APW describes Sen. Buruji Kashamu as man of peace and a patriotic Nigerian who has given his best for the growth and development  of the country and should not be ridiculed or sacrificed in the alter of unwarranted politicking. It urged political enemies of the Senator to wait till 2019 if they so wish to remove him from office stressing that going through the back door will do them no good.

The association called on the Federal Government to call the NDLEA to order and to direct the security agencies to take the threat alarm of the Senator seriously. “the country has been embroiled in a lot of security issues which has done the image of the country no good. Abducting or assassinating a serving senator of the Federal Republic who has lots of dependents will send a very wrong signal to the international community no matter what those planning such heinous activity are wont to achieve.

It said it will employ all available legal and legitimate means to drive home its message to the narcotics agency. It said it is imperative that the NDLEA go about its duties without using the agency as a platform to witch-hunt innocent Nigerians or engage in unnecessary political bickerings. “Nigerians are becoming suspicious of the activities of the NDLEA in recent times especially as regards Sen. Kashamu. We will not relent in employing legitimate and legal steps towards ensuring that the agency does not go beyond its bounds” the statement added.

Saraki, Dogara Allegedly reject N10bn official residence

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal officers have rejected the N10 billion proposed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in the 2016 budget for the construction of their official residences.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas who made the revelation in a statement Sunday said the Eighth Assembly “is very conscious and sensitive to the present economic woos bedeviling the country and has responded positively by making the much needed sacrifices.

“For example, President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, rejected N10 billion the Federal Capital Territory Administration proposed in the 2016 budget for building of official residences of Principal officers. They are all living in rented accommodation.

“The National Assembly, has also reduced its budget from N150 billion to N115 billion. Even though it is always erroneously and albeit mischievously insinuated that this money is shared among the 360 Reps and 109 senators. What is more tragic is the failure of intellectuals to realise that N150 billion some eight years ago is not the same amount now. Inflation has reduced that amount by over 50%.

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“The truth is, there are agencies and bodies like National Assembly Service Commission, Public Complains Commission and National Institute for Legislative Studies that draw their funding from the N115 billion total allocation to National Assembly which represents less than 1.9 per cent of the over N6 trillion budget.”

Sundry issues including delay in the provision of infrastructure in the new official residence built by FCTA for National Assembly presiding officers at Maitama Extension (renamed Goodluck Jonathan District) forced then Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Senate president and Deputy Speaker during the Seventh Assembly to reject the quarters.

Then FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, disclosed that the construction of the N3 billion new official accommodation by construction giant, Julius Berger, at the site located behind the Lungi Military Barrack in the city centre was discontinued.

In March Mohammed indicated that the then President of the Senate, David Mark, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha will not move into the new residence being built for presiding officers of the National Assembly at the Three Arms Zone before the completion of the Seventh Assembly in June 2015.

He disclosed that the new quarters being built by FCTA for the four presiding officers of the parliament will be ready for occupation after the inauguration of the Eighth Assembly.

President Buhari Rules Out Breaking Fast With Senate President Saraki And Others

 President Muhammadu Buhari has finally ruled out the possibility of breaking the Ramadan fast with the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and other leaders of the National Assembly. Since his return from his leave on June 19, Buhari had hosted different groups to Iftar, during which they broke their fast with him.

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally ruled out the possibility of breaking the Ramadan fast with the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and other leaders of the National Assembly

Since his return from his leave on June 19, Buhari had hosted different groups to Iftar, during which they broke their fast with him.

Those who the President had hosted so far included security chiefs, members of the Federal Executive Council, serving and retired judges, traditional rulers, Christian and Muslim clerics, leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, members of the business community and members of the diplomatic corps among others.

Penultimate Wednesday, it was learnt that Buhari was scheduled to host the leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly to Iftar.

A few hours before the scheduled take-off time, however, the event was put off.

With the Ramadan fast ending on Monday (today) or Tuesday, our correspondent on Friday asked Shehu if a new date had been fixed for the botched dinner.

The presidential spokesman admitted that Buhari would no longer be able to meet the National Assembly leaders before the end of Ramadan.

He, however, said the development was not the making of anybody.

Shehu said, “You will recall that the President spent most of the days in the Ramadan month outside the country.

“By the time he returned, a schedule had already been made for him on those he would be receiving daily.

“On the day fixed for the National Assembly leaders, most of them had prior engagements and so the event could not hold. It is difficult to begin to adjust the schedule when others fixed for other days have been duly informed. It is not by anybody’s making.”

NASS Alleged Forgery: APW Faults Attempts To Pass Blame On Efeturi

The Association of Parliamentary Writers APW has asked spin doctors not to pass the blame on the alleged forgery of Senate standing rules to the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly Ben Efeturi. Efeturi and President of the Senate  Bukola Saraki, his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, the outgoing Clerk of the National Assembly Salisu Maikasuwa are on trial for alleged forgery of Senate standing rules.

The Association in a press release made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by its National scribe Barr. Kingsley Frank said trying to shift the bulk of the whole forgery saga on the Deputy clerk is a wrong move that is aimed at deceiving the Nigerian public and placing Efeturi in bad light as well as branding him as the brain behind the so called forgery.

APW said Efeturi as a public servant does not have anything to gain whatsoever in forging standing rules of the Senate. “As a public servant what does he stand to gain by forging standing rules of the Senate? He has made his statements to the police and has also issued press statements to define his role in the emergence of the present leadership of the Senate which he said was done with the best of intentions. Why then are mischief makers trying to paint him in ugly light by passing the blame to him in the issue of the alleged forgery?”

The association queried why the blame should be on Efeturi when he has a superior. “Why should the Clerk be seen to abdicate his responsibilities as a Clerk to the National Assembly in this circumstance?” As much as we have utmost regard for the outgoing Clerk we believe that trying to shift the bulk of the ongoing trial to Mr. Benedict Efeturi in our own humble submission amounts to cowardice if not outright mischief on the part of those doing so. We are also urging all the parties not to allow themselves to fall for the tactics of the executive which is aimed at using divide and rule to break their ranks” the statement added.

The association also asked the Executive arm of government to as a matter of national interest withdraw the litigation against the leadership of the senate stressing that it will only create more distraction for the present administration. It said the distractions against the legislative arm of government since its inauguration last June has cost the nation a lot in terms of service delivery. “We cannot continue with such distractions which in our honest view is, not leading the country to anywhere. The Senate is an independent institution and must be respected for its independence. We do hope that this recent case against its leadership will not be a ploy to cause disaffection within its ranks” The statement added.