PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari must follow due process before withdrawing the $1 billion security fund from Excess Crude Account (ECA), the House of Representatives has said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrasak Namdas, made this known while speaking with reporters yesterday at the National Assembly.
The National Assembly, Namdas said, was yet to give any approval for the $1 billion to be withdrawn from the ECA to fight insurgency and insecurity.
According to him, the National Assembly must approve any fund to be withdrawn from the Federation Account.
His words: “We are hoping that this will be brought before us before any amount is withdrawn.
“Although from the Presidency we have heard some explanations that the President has not approved.
“What we have been told is that the National Executive Council (NEC) has given its tacit approval and that it will still come to the National Assembly.
“But until we approve, no single amount can be taken from that account,” the Adamawa lawmaker said.
Another member, Mrakpor Onyemeachi (PDP Delta), said the usual practice is for the Executive to forward the request to the parliament.
She said: “Personally, I don’t think that amount of money for arms is what is the challenge of Nigerians today.”
However, the Deputy Whip of the House, Pally Iriase (APC Edo), expressed confidence that the executive would send the request of the $1billion security fund to the National Assembly.