Group urges Nigerians to caution NASS over 2018 budget handling
A socio-political organisation, Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), has urged Nigerians to halt what it calls the National Assembly’s annual legislative rascality on budget passage.
The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Razaq Olokoba observed that, it has become the antics of Federal lawmakers to use the budget passage period as a trap to hold the country hostage hiding under frivolous excuses that are selfish and unpatriotic.
The group noted with dismay, the way and manner the budget on Power was handled by the National Assembly members recently when they unduly embarrassed the Minister in charge, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
“The undue embarrassment became more worrisome when viewed against the background that the Minister’s performance in his Ministry in the recent time has won him accolade from the public who are convinced that power has become more stable under him,” the group stated.
According to the release, the National Assembly has unpatriotic hidden agenda that it is pursuing under the disguise of oversight function, cautioning that,
“if Nigerians do not rise to stop the Federal Legislative Houses from pulling the country back every time they are called upon to handle the budget issues with patriotism, the country would be worse for it.”
The group warned further that the Parliament should not behave in a manner that the public would view its conduct as opposition induced sentiment that would erode their confidence from the people’s mind.
Citing another example, the statement reminded the public about the issue of the 2018 budget presented to the House by President Muhamadu Buhari which it said is being treated with levity, saying that the early passage of the document which the President envisaged is now being threatened.
The group, which said its call on Nigerians to call the National Assembly to order on the vexatious matter is not at all aimed at inciting the public against the lawmakers, however pointed out emphatically that,
if the Parliament is not checked, the main aim of President Buhari to hit the ground running next year could be jeopardised and become a pipe dream.
Patrick Okohue
