The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji
Aminu Tambuwal, has said a revolution is due in Nigeria because of endemic
corruption in the country, coupled with the general disaffection of the
people with the ruling elite.
Aminu Tambuwal, has said a revolution is due in Nigeria because of endemic
corruption in the country, coupled with the general disaffection of the
people with the ruling elite.
He said the kind of conditions that must subsist
in order for any talk of revolution to be taken seriously were widely evident.
in order for any talk of revolution to be taken seriously were widely evident.
Tambuwal stated these in Lagos on Tuesday at the
2013 Distinguished Management Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management
(Chartered). The occasion had the theme, ‘The role of the legislature on the
economic, infrastructural and ethical revolution in Nigeria’, where he was
invited as a guest speaker.
2013 Distinguished Management Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management
(Chartered). The occasion had the theme, ‘The role of the legislature on the
economic, infrastructural and ethical revolution in Nigeria’, where he was
invited as a guest speaker.
He said, “The most compelling reasons for
revolution throughout the ages were injustice, crushing poverty,
marginalisation, rampant corruption, lawlessness, joblessness, and general
disaffection with the ruling elite. You will agree with me that these describe
conditions in our nation now, to a very large degree.”
revolution throughout the ages were injustice, crushing poverty,
marginalisation, rampant corruption, lawlessness, joblessness, and general
disaffection with the ruling elite. You will agree with me that these describe
conditions in our nation now, to a very large degree.”
Tambuwal, who was represented by the Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Mr.
Opeyemi Bamidele, said over the years, successive governments made efforts to
deal with this menace, but to no avail.
House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Mr.
Opeyemi Bamidele, said over the years, successive governments made efforts to
deal with this menace, but to no avail.
“That these conditions exist is well known to all
persons in authority but the results of these successive efforts have failed to
yield the desired results. This therefore is the justification for the radical
change from the present approach to a revolutionary one,” he stressed.
persons in authority but the results of these successive efforts have failed to
yield the desired results. This therefore is the justification for the radical
change from the present approach to a revolutionary one,” he stressed.
From the perspective of legislation, according to
him, the most critical role that the legislature plays is through the annual
appropriation bill, as every year, pursuant to the Constitution, the executive
submits its budget estimates for legislative scrutiny.
him, the most critical role that the legislature plays is through the annual
appropriation bill, as every year, pursuant to the Constitution, the executive
submits its budget estimates for legislative scrutiny.
The Speaker said as representatives of the
people, the legislature ensured that the more critical needs of the people got
priority attention, as efforts were made to ensure equitable distribution of
projects.
people, the legislature ensured that the more critical needs of the people got
priority attention, as efforts were made to ensure equitable distribution of
projects.
He said, “The effort of the National Assembly to
handle appropriation to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people has
been met with serious resistance; yet it is something we must do.
handle appropriation to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people has
been met with serious resistance; yet it is something we must do.
“It is perhaps important to emphasise that if our
economy is to be turned around, our annual budgets must prioritise programmes
and projects that deliberately address issues of poverty alleviation, job
creation and security of lives and property.
economy is to be turned around, our annual budgets must prioritise programmes
and projects that deliberately address issues of poverty alleviation, job
creation and security of lives and property.
Earlier in his welcome speech, the President and
Chairman of Council, NIM, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, had said more than ever
before, Nigeria needed an urgent intellectual revolution to the many leadership
challenges besetting it.
Chairman of Council, NIM, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, had said more than ever
before, Nigeria needed an urgent intellectual revolution to the many leadership
challenges besetting it.
Source: Punch
