SENATE SUMMONS AGANGA, SANUSI

After an emotion laden debate, the Senate, yesterday, summoned the Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to appear before its committees to explain alleged disparaging remarks against the Senate credited to them.

Similarly, the Senate also invited the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Hajia Amina Ibrahim, to appear before its committee to explain the true position of who handles millennium development goals projects for the Federal Government.

Yesterday’s decision followed a point of privilege raised by the Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, citing media reports in several national newspapers which quoted the Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as saying that 25 per cent of the federal budget of the country was spent on the National Assembly.

The Minister of Finance’s summon was based on statements credited to him alleging that the budget of the National Assembly would be slashed in the next appropriation.

In remarks that were widely reported in the media Monday, the CBN governor was quoted as saying that “if you look at the budget, the bulk of government revenue expenditure is on over head, that is a big problem.

Twenty five per cent of overhead of the Federal Government goes to the National Assembly. We need power, we need infrastructure so we need to start looking at the structure of expenditure and make it more consistent with the development initiative of the country.”

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma-Egba, pointed out that to suggest that the budget of the National Assembly which constitute only 3.5 per cent of the national budget was responsible for the economic woes of the country was not only a fortunate but calculated to tarnish the image of the National Assembly.

Attempt to bring National Assembly to disrepute

He said the remarks of the CBN governor represented “a trend of a calculated attempt to bring the National Assembly to disrepute,” adding:  “I see a plot to incite the public against us. I see a plot to bring the National Assembly to disrepute. I move that the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank appear before us to justify their allegations.”

While declaring that the “blackmail from the government officials is too much” Senate Whip, Senator Kanti Bello said the officials should be invited “in the full glare of the media” to explain the disparaging remarks attributed to them.

Senator Olorunibe Mamora wondered whether to become a legislator in the country has become an offence, pointing out that “senators are being traumatized, demonized  and criminalized for no just cause.” He added that it was time those making the wide allegations were held accountable.

Senator Nuhu Aliyu enjoined his colleagues to invite the Minister of Finance and Governor of the Central Bank to appear before the Senate committees “so that we can dress them down. Many of them want to come to the National Assembly and they feel that the best way to come is to blackmail us.”

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri accused the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank Governor of trying to blame their failure on the National Assembly, adding that “for a Central Bank governor to  make that statement, he should be sacked!”

Senate President, Senator David Mark regretted that some persons had resorted to deliberate misrepresentation of facts to pitch members of the public against the National Assembly, noting: “If they are telling the truth, we would not be disturbed. They owe us explanation and most importantly, they owe the public explanation.”

After voting 29 to 11, the Senate resolved that the officials should appear before the Senate Committees on Appropriation, Banking and Currency,  Finance and Millennium Development Goal.

Senator Mark directed that the appearance should be televised live on national televisions.