Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli
Ezekwesili, has insisted that the National Assembly gulped approximately N1tn
in the last eight years.
Ezekwesili, has insisted that the National Assembly gulped approximately N1tn
in the last eight years.
She has, therfore, challenged the lawmakers to a
public hearing to defend her claims.
public hearing to defend her claims.
In a statement on Wednesday, she defended her
submissions at the Civil Society Roundtable hosted by Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre, on Monday, where she gave details on the budgetary allocations
to the National Assembly in the last eight years.
submissions at the Civil Society Roundtable hosted by Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre, on Monday, where she gave details on the budgetary allocations
to the National Assembly in the last eight years.
Ezekwesili’s presentation was immediately
contested by members of the National Assembly, who rebuked her for what they
described as blackmail against the legislature.
contested by members of the National Assembly, who rebuked her for what they
described as blackmail against the legislature.
She said “I wish to state with absolute respect
for our lawmakers and our institution that it will be more valuable and
enriching for our democracy if instead of the abusive language in their recent
reaction, the NASS immediately offered me and the rest of the Nigerian public,
the opportunity of a public hearing on their budgetary allocation and the very
relevant issue of their remuneration.
for our lawmakers and our institution that it will be more valuable and
enriching for our democracy if instead of the abusive language in their recent
reaction, the NASS immediately offered me and the rest of the Nigerian public,
the opportunity of a public hearing on their budgetary allocation and the very
relevant issue of their remuneration.
“Doing so would be consistent with global
practice across countries of the world, where emphasis is on tenets of Open
Budget to enable citizens to track to the disaggregated level all use of public
resources across every arm and level of government.”
practice across countries of the world, where emphasis is on tenets of Open
Budget to enable citizens to track to the disaggregated level all use of public
resources across every arm and level of government.”
She argued that her presentation approached
the topic more broadly, by calling attention to the fundamentally unsustainable
economic structure that had caused Nigeria’s development over the last 53 years
to lag behind those of countries with similar political history.
the topic more broadly, by calling attention to the fundamentally unsustainable
economic structure that had caused Nigeria’s development over the last 53 years
to lag behind those of countries with similar political history.
She said there had been attendant high poverty level
of 69 per cent of Nigerian citizens, as recorded by the National Bureau of
Statistics.
of 69 per cent of Nigerian citizens, as recorded by the National Bureau of
Statistics.
“As part of the aspect of my presentation that
touched on management of public finance, I provided eight years data on
budgetary allocations or transfers to the National Assembly.
touched on management of public finance, I provided eight years data on
budgetary allocations or transfers to the National Assembly.
“The data in question is publicly available
information from the Ministry of Finance, which reveals that the allocations to
the National Assembly, known as Statutory Transfers, between 2005 and 2013 were
approximately one trillion naira,” she said.
information from the Ministry of Finance, which reveals that the allocations to
the National Assembly, known as Statutory Transfers, between 2005 and 2013 were
approximately one trillion naira,” she said.
The figures, according to Ezekwesili, are as
follows: 2005, N 54.79bn; 2006, N54.79bn; 2007, N 66.4bn; 2008, N114.39bn;
2009, N158.92bn; 2010, N 150bn; 2011, N 150bn; 2012, N150bn; and 2013, N150bn.
follows: 2005, N 54.79bn; 2006, N54.79bn; 2007, N 66.4bn; 2008, N114.39bn;
2009, N158.92bn; 2010, N 150bn; 2011, N 150bn; 2012, N150bn; and 2013, N150bn.
Source: Punch
