The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • Budget 2019: Lawmakers under attack for ‘unruly behaviour’

    Lawmakers got some knocks yesterday over their behaviour at Wednesday’s budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Federal Government led the way, branding the heckling of the President on Wednesday as “infantile politicking” and “parliamentary rascality”.

    It also assured the U.S International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of free and fair polls in 2019.

    It said the opposition led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is only crying wolf because it has never won credible poll.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed faulted the lawmakers at news conference in Abuja against the backdrop of the rowdy session at the presentation of the 2019 Budget on Wednesday.

    He said: “Yes, some unruly lawmakers threw away parliamentary decorum to behave like ordinary protesters or agitators. It is nothing but bad politicking (infantile politicking/parliamentary rascality).

    “But the real news is that the unruly action provided the platform for our party, the APC, to assert its majority in the National Assembly.

    “The plan by the opposition was to embarrass the President and prevent him from presenting the budget. But they were comprehensively overwhelmed by our lawmakers who are in the majority. That also sends a clear signal to the opposition that they lack the number to override the President’s decision not to accent to the Electoral Bill.

    “I must also note that all through the sniping by some unruly lawmakers, the President remained dignified and presidential. He rose above it all to make his presentation.”

    He dismissed fears by the IRI and the NDI that security agencies may be partisan during the polls.

    Besides, said the minister, the government is not clamping down on the opposition and the civil society.

    Mohammed said: “The opposition is only crying wolf where there is none, and in view of what they did during their 16 years in power. They never really won a free and fair election. Their strategy was to use the security agencies to thwart the wishes of voters. They did it in Ekiti and Osun in 2014.

    “I was a victim in Osun, so I know what I am saying.

    “But the guilty are always afraid. They think what they have done to others is what will be done to them. Under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch, no security agency will play that kind of ignominious role in any election.

    “There is no clampdown on any civil society, except in the wild imagination of naysayers. As I have said, being in opposition is no licence to break the law and then hope to escape justice. If the police have re-arrested Deji Adeyanju, they must have a compelling reason to do so. Anyone who breaks the law must face justice.”

    On non-signing of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018, Mohammed said there was no cause for alarm.

    He said the opposition drafted the Electoral (Amendment) Act used for 2015 poll, which was adjudged as credible.

    He said: “The fears are unfounded. For one, President Buhari will always do what is in the interest of Nigerians. Then, of course, what is wrong with the same electoral law that was used to conduct the 2014 general elections that were adjudged to be largely free and fair.

    “That law was drafted and approved under the same opposition that is now crying foul. At what point did they lose confidence in this same law? What do they know that they are not telling Nigerians? The noise over the bill is a distraction and a potential alibi for an opposition in disarray.”

    Asked how the government will react if President Buhari is defeated in February, the minister said: “I don’t entertain any fear in respect of 2019.

    “The election will come, it will pass and we are going to win with a larger percentage.”

    He dismissed insinuations that APC has not set up a Presidential campaign council and was not campaigning because it had nothing to offer.

    Mohammed said: “The ban on campaign was just lifted; we will soon have our PCC in place. What wins election is not jamboree. There is nowhere in Nigeria we are not campaigning.”

    The minister also described the judgment of a Kwara High Court recognising the Balogun Fulani-led committee as the authentic Kwara Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a temporary setback.

    He said: There is no cause for alarm. It is just another bump on our way to dismantling the Saraki political dynasty that has held Kwara State by the jugular.

    “We will definitely appeal the ruling and we are very optimistic that the judgment will be overturned on appeal. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our teeming members and supporters in Kwara not to be discouraged by the ruling. It is a temporary setback.”

    In Mohammed view, the judgment does not affect the status of the APC governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

    Regarding the murder of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Minister said: “This is most dastardly and very unfortunate.

    “In line with the directive of the President to the security agencies to find the killers, I have no doubt that this will be done and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

    Senior lawyers were divided yesterday over the behaviour of some lawmakers as President Muhammadu Buhari presented the N8.83 trillion 2019 Appropriation Bill on Wednesday.

    Senior lawyers Chief Niyi Akintola SAN and Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN) disagreed on the lawmakers’ conduct.

    Akintola observed that such conduct was commonplace in democracies and urged President Buhari or any future occupant of the office to brace for more of such heckling.

    He said: “I don’t see why there should be any hullabaloo about it.

    “What happened was just normal in a democracy. There will always be people in support or against you. It’s part of democracy. You could see there, depending on the side of the divide you found yourself, I watched it on Youtube.

    “Those in support of Buhari were more in number; they were shouting ‘Sai Baba! Sai Baba!’ and some others were booing. It was all normal.

    “You would also have noticed that most of the senators didn’t take part in that, because they are senior citizens, they are supposed to be statesmen, so, they didn’t join in the rowdiness.

    “Most of the people that spearheaded the rowdiness were from the House of Representatives, which is understandable: they are younger men and women. There’s nothing spectacular about it; it is normal. Even in advanced democracies, presidents are booed once in a while. They are even pelted with rotten eggs.”

    But Keyamo disagreed.

    According to him, the booing lawmakers’ had insulted the Office of the President and disqualified themselves from contesting for President in future.

    Keyamo said: “What they were booing yesterday was the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not Buhari.

    “Buhari is not the owner of that office, whether in 2019 or 2023, he is going to leave the office. They denigrated the office, not Buhari and the Office of the President is actually the symbol of the country. By doing so, they showed that they are not worthy of their office.

    “The internet does not forget. Every single one of them that opened their mouths to boo the President would never ever aspire to the Office of the President of this country. They have disqualified themselves automatically.

    “The day any of them brings out posters that they want to contest for President, they will be shown their picture or video booing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “They have automatically disqualified themselves as potential candidates forever, till they enter their graves, because they have shown contempt for that office. You cannot come tomorrow and say you want to elevate that office; you cannot.”

     

  • N488b states cash stuck as lawmakers inflate claims

    States banking on some big refund for Federal Government projects they executed have been dissapointed.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the National Assembly’s approval for the refund of N488.7 billion to such states.

    He accused the legislature of inflating debts incurred by the states on behalf of the Federal Government after approval had been given by the executive for reimbursements.

    In turning down the National Assembly’s approval, the President demanded a review of the amount it approved as debt repayment to the states.

    In a letter dated December 10, 2018 and addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki, the President said that the National Assembly jacked up the amount by N890, 537, 630.03 above what the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved and forwarded to the National Assembly.

    He noted that the FEC approved N487, 852, 988, 574.74 as reimbursement to some states, but the National Assembly approved N488, 743, 526, 204.77.

    To Buhari, approving N890, 537, 630.03 higher than what the FEC approved is a breach of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    This is contained in a letter titled: “Promissory note programme and a bond issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations on refund to state governments for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government,” read by Saraki yesterday.

    The President also said that the National Assembly failed to list some states that were approved by FEC.

    The letter reads: “The Senate may wish to refer to the letter from the National Assembly, referenced NASS/CNA/106/Vol.10/277 dated July 27, 2018, which communicated the approval by the National Assembly of the Promissory Note Programme and a Bond issuance to settle Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations on Refund to State Governments for Projects Executed on Behalf of the Federal Government in the sum of N488,743 l,528,204.77.

    Read also: Oshiomhole: why governors must pay living wage

    “The Senate may wish to note that following a review of the approval by the National Assembly, the following were observed:

    • While the Federal Executive Council approved a total sum of N487,852,988,574.74 as reimbursement to State Governments, the National Assembly approved N488,743,526,204.77 implying that the amount approved by National Assembly was N890,537,630.03  higher than the amount approved by FEC;
    • While the Federal Executive Council approved reimbursement to 25 states, National Assembly approved reimbursement to only 21 states;
    • National Assembly did not approve any reimbursement for four states (Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba) whereas Federal Executive Council had approved reimbursements for them; and,
    • The amounts approved by the National Assembly for reimbursement to 21 states are higher than the amounts approved by FEC for reimbursement to 25 states.
    • The amount approved by National Assembly for reimbursement to each of the 21 states is higher than the amount approved by FEC for each of these states except for Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.
    • The Senate may kindly note the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which empowers the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to approve vendors and contract sums.
    • The amounts presented to National Assembly for approval were duly certified for reimbursement by the BPP, before they were approved by the FEC.
    • This was after the projects had been inspected through a programme under the chairmanship of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
    • Since the BPP is charged with the responsibility of approving contract sums, and there is a need for compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, I wish to request that you forward to us details relating to the amounts approved by National Assembly for the 17 states in excess of what was certified by BPP for necessary certification and approval
    • Furthermore, I wish to request for review of the reimbursement earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba states.
    • Meanwhile the Federal Government shall proceed with implementation on the following basis:
    • Where the amount approved by the National Assembly is the same as the amount approved by the FEC: The jointly approved amount would be reimbursed. The states are: Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger;
    • Where the amount approved by the National Assembly is higher than the amount approved by FEC, the amount approved by FEC would be reimbursed. The states are: Akwa lbom, Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, lmo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara; and
    • Where no amount was approved by National Assembly, no reimbursement will be made: The affected states are: Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba.
    • While looking forward to your timely consideration of this request to enable us to deal with the issue appropriately, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

  • Lawmakers seek parliamentary system

    LATE last week, 22 members of the House of Representatives, acting on behalf of some 71 lawmakers, addressed the press on a bill they were sponsoring at the lower legislative chamber. The bill, if it passes, is designed to return Nigeria to a parliamentary system of government. In January, former Osun State governor and interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, had told the media while marking his 79th birthday that the parliamentary system of government was to be preferred over the cumbersome, opaque and expensive presidential system currently in operation. In response to his erudite contribution, this column had penned a short exposition on the debate about which system of government is best suited for Nigeria. That short piece first published in January is reproduced above.

    But last week, some members of the lower legislative chamber weighed in on the debate and, without mincing words, pointedly asked for the support of their colleagues to vote for the parliamentary system. They adduced reasons, many of them in sync with what Chief Akande ably argued on January 16, 2018. Here is an excerpt from the 71 lawmakers’ arguments, as presented by their spokesman, Nicholas Ossai: “Studies have shown empirically that countries run by presidential system consistently produce lower output growth, higher and more volatile inflation and greater income inequality relative to those under parliamentary ones. Little wonder the rich continue to be richer whilst the poor get poorer, and we have become the poverty capital of the world…There are countless empirical records which show that output growth under presidential systems are in zero points (negative) while output growth under parliamentary systems clocks from one point and above (positive). Great Britain is an example. France is another example. Australia is also an example of countries with high positive output. …Due to the excessive powers domiciled in one man under the presidential system, consensus building that is often required for economic decision is always lacking. If it is under a parliamentary system, the prime minister is part of the legislature. The over-centralisation of government decisions that is prevalent in a presidential system obstructs economic development when compared to the parliamentary or hybrid system…The decentralisation of powers in parliamentary system helps to douse tensions in countries – like Nigeria – where ethnicity, race, religious differences and ideological divisions are prevalent, thereby promoting peace and unity which are ingredients for economic growth and development…Parliamentary systems promote inclusion and collectiveness which is critical to equality of income distribution and opportunities.”

    It is not clear whether this intervention by the 71 lawmakers is not coming late in the day, especially given the nearness of the debate and the amendment effort to the next set of elections. Nor is it clear that 71 lawmakers actually and wholeheartedly back the intervention. And if the number of those sponsoring the bill is accurate, there is no proof, until it is shown to the public, that the 71 legislators are actually representative of the country’s geopolitical sensibilities. But if these misgivings are finally settled, the lawmakers must be applauded for their thinking and courage. The present Nigerian structure is inoperable, through and through. It is also inordinately expensive, unrepresentative, ponderous, monarchical, and simply too inadequate for the future.

    A cursory look at the economy, and particularly the inability to pay wages and guarantee development and infrastructural renewal, indicates very clearly that something urgently must be done to snatch Nigeria from the jaws of impending chaos. Tinkering with the system or hoping that the people and their elected representatives can suddenly become altruistic, is simply insufficient for the crying need of the times. Something drastic must be done. Chief Akande was dispassionate and visionary enough to lend his voice to the need for substantial change; now 71 lawmakers have added their weight. Nigeria must find the boldness to conquer their fears and address the future. So far, sadly, they have done nothing to show that they are thinking of that future.

  • Alleged N4.7b fraud: ‘Ladoja didn’t buy vehicles for lawmakers to avoid impeachment’

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that former Governor Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja did not buy any vehicle for 14 lawmakers loyal to him in 2005 to escape impeachment.

    A former Oyo State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Titilola Ademola Dauda told Justice Mohammed Idris that the vehicles were the products of a contractual relationship they had with a firm, VT Leasing.

    Dauda testified as the first defence witness in the ongoing trial of the ex-governor and one of his former aides, Waheed Akanbi, for alleged fraud of N4.7 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said: “I had a contractual relationship with VT Leasing, an incorporated company, on a car supplied to me. The agreement was that I should pay a particular percentage upfront and thereafter on rentals.

    “I entered into agreement with VT Leasing. I paid both my contribution and rentals. I am not owing VT Leasing. No member of the Assembly was given any vehicle. Each of the 14 members benefitted from the VT Leasing arrangement.”

    The witness faulted claims by a prosecution witness, Chief Adewale Atanda, that the vehicles were bought for them by Ladoja to save him from impeachment.

    Atanda, who was a Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Ladoja, told the court that he used his assets and personal guarantee to secure an N80 million loan from Wema Bank Plc to buy the vehicles.

    But Dauda said the agreement that led to the delivery of the vehicles to him and 13 others was not guaranteed by Atanda.

    The witness averred that he personally paid all his expenses in his four-month stay at Heritage Court and Inns, a hotel owned by Atanda, after he relocated to Lagos with his colleagues for fear of being killed, if Ladoja was impeached in December 2005.

    Responding to a question during cross-examination by EFCC’s lawyer Olabisi Oluwafemi, the witness denied receiving any money from Atanda throughout his stay in the hotel.

    A stockbroker, Tajudeen Ajani Bayonle, also testified during yesterday’s proceedings.

    The witness, who told the court that he was not familiar with the facts of the matter, said he was invited by one of the defence lawyers because of his technical knowledge of stockbroking business.

    Further hearing in the trial continues today.

    Ladoja and his co-defendant opened their defence, following the dismissal of their “no case” submissions by the judge.

    They were, for the second time in about two years, re-arraigned on November 5 by the EFCC on an 11-count charge of N4.7 billion money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They pleaded not guilty.

     

  • Lawmakers short-changing Nigerians, says Osun senatorial aspirant

    A senatorial candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Osun Central Senatorial District, Adebisi Mukaila Micheal, has said that the current crop of legislators are short-changing Nigerians.

    He stated this while addressing his supporters, who visited him in Osogbo, saying his intention to run for the senatorial seat, was borne of his desire to lead a mission to save Osun from under-development.

    According to him, had the legislators not been selfish, they would do the needful and ensure that they put the executive tier of government on its toes.

    “People of Nigeria deserve more than what they are getting and they are getting less because those in the position of authority have not been sincere.

    “Public office should be about service to the people, but unfortunately, the purpose of seeking public offices has been defeated due to the selfishness of those in the position of authority.

    “Therefore, my reason for seeking the vote of the people into the Osun Central Senatorial seat in the senate is to reinvigorate the hopes of the people in public offices and mobilize to give the people the best they deserve,” he said.

  • Presidency, lawmakers set to clash over N189.2b approved for INEC

    THE Senate yesterday approved N189.2 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    A sharp disagreement may have broken out between the Presidency and the upper chamber over the source of funding for the INEC budget.

    The Senate refused to approve that the N189.2 billion for INEC should be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Fund to fund the 2019 general elections.

    The upper chamber resolved that the fund should be sourced from the Special Intervention Programme, as provided in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter addressed to the Senate President in July, requested the Senate to vire over N242 billion from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget as its Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The fund, Buhari said, was to enable the INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 general elections.

    But, the Senate failed to approve the request due to its annual break in July.

    The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, held a series of meetings with INEC officials to address some grey areas in the INEC request.

    Chairman of the committee Senator Suleiman Nazif said members resolved to ask the Presidency to find other sources of funding for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The lawmakers refused to approve the reduction of funds meant for their constituency projects to fund the 2019 general elections.

    In another letter addressed to the Senate President, which was read on Wednesday, the President was silent on the source of funding for INEC election budget for 2018 elections.

    It was, however, believed that Buhari still wanted the fund to be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The Senate Committee on Appropriations, which met on Wednesday to conclude work on the president’s request, submitted its report yesterday.

    The appropriation committee adopted the position of the INEC and Electoral Matters Committee that the fund should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote.

    The report of Appropriations Committee, adopted by the Senate, said N144.746 billion should be vired from the Special Intervention Programme (Recurrent).

    It vired another N44.260 billion from Special Intervention Programme (Capital) – a total of N189.2 billion as requested by INEC.

    Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, while presenting the report, said: “The sum of N189.2 billion requested for the funding of the 2019 general elections should be vired from both recurrent and capital components of Special Intervention Programme captured in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act and be added to the sum of N45.5 billion provided for INEC in the statutory transfers.

    “This will bring the total budget of INEC in the 2018 budget to N234,507 billion.”

  • Protests in Uganda after lawmakers detained at airport

    Protests erupted in the Ugandan capital on Friday after police detained two lawmakers at the international airport as they prepared to travel abroad for medical care, witnesses said,

    People demonstrated in different parts of Kampala, burning tires and piling rocks and other barricades in the middle of the roads.

    Police said the protests were limited and had been contained.

    The lawmakers, Robert Kyagulanyi and Francis Zaake, say they were tortured by security forces while in detention.

    They were trying to leave to seek medical treatment abroad when they were arrested at Kampala’s international airport on Thursday night.

    Kyagulanyi’s lawyer last week told Reuters that his client had been left unable to stand after being beaten while in detention.

    When he appeared in court a day after his lawyer spoke, he was unable to walk without help.

    ReadAlso: Ugandan lawmaker re-arrested on new treason charges

    Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo last week dismissed the lawyer’s comments as rubbish

    “Protesters blocked the roads using garbage cans and burning tyres. Motorists have to get alternative routes to the city centre.

    Soldiers and riot police are still clearing the roads,” Nvule told Reuters.

    Police spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire said police were monitoring the city to ensure no illegal rallies took place.

    The two parliamentarians were among a group of five lawmakers who were detained on Aug. 13 in Uganda’s northwestern town of Arua and accused of throwing stones at a presidential convoy during the campaign for a parliamentary seat.

    Police said on Thursday they had stopped Kyagulanyi, who has been charged with treason but released on bail, as they awaited further guidance.

    Zaake has not been charged but has been in hospital in Kampala. Images of him posted on social media show him lying on a bed, eyes closed, with multiple bruises on his hand and other body areas.

    Kyagulanyi in particular has risen as a formidable threat to President Yoweri Museveni’s 32-year rule, winning popular support through his music and strong criticism of the government.

  • Assembly panel okays N143.2b for INEC

    The National Assembly joint committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday gave a harmonised final figure on the budget of INEC for the 2019 general election.

    The committee, after considering the initial request of N143,512,529,455.00 by INEC, approved N143,312,256,955,13 for the first tranche of the 2019 general election.

    A total of N200,272,500.00 was removed from media production and airing of election jingles, conduct of training for continuous voter registration officials.

    Others left out by the lawmakers are: Monitoring of the 2019 general election for regulatory compliance and local government grassroots enlightenment forums and outreach activities.

    The Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, who was at a news briefing yesterday with his House of Representatives counterpart, Aisha Dukku, said the request would be forwarded to the leadership of the National Assembly and the appropriation committees for further impute.

    He said: “The joint committee considered the request by President Muhammadu Buhari for the first component of the election budget of N143,512,529,455.00 to be vired under the 2018 budget, due to reasons of financial constraints established in the presidential communication to the National Assembly; while the second component of N45, 695, 015,438.00 is expected to be funded by 2019 budget, also as requested by Mr. President.

    “Importantly, both the request of Mr. president and INEC submission to the committee marked the total package for the 2019 general election at N189,207,544,893.00.

    “Therefore, the committee remains available at all times to consider any further request from the presidency for the second component of the N45, 695, 015,438.00 for the general election.

    “Subsequently, after signifying a reduction of N200,272, 500.00, these reductions cover item nos 64,74,125 and 167. Therefore, the received figure of N143,312,256,955,13 as reached is the recommendation of the joint committee that will be forwarded to the leadership and appropriation committee for further legislative consideration.

     

  • Lawmakers can still reconvene before vacation is over, says Rep

    The National Assembly can still reconvene before the 25th September resumption date for the consideration of the N189.2b supplementary budget for the 2019 general election, a member of the House of Representatives has said.

    The National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters on Friday adjourned indefinitely on the matter.

    Joseph Akinlaja (PDP, Ondo East/Ondo West), however, said the emergency sitting is dependent on the determination of key stakeholders to follow due process.

    He said the political crisis rocking the National Assembly should be seen as part of the evolution of the nation’s democracy.

    “It is still possible that the NASS can reconvene before 25 Sept because we have seen it happen before espeially if the issue is of national interest,” he said in Abuja.

    “Sitting during recess, from my experience, is not a big deal. We did it in the 7th House when we had to intervene in the fuel subsidy crisis. So, in this instance, it depends on how we see it. If the Speaker asks us to report tomorrow for a joint session, we will surely turn up.”

    On the consideration of the 2019 election budget, Akinlaja said trust was lacking in the process that eventually led to the crisis.

    His words:”During crisis, everyone will go to his comfort zone. The president’s letter that came on the eve of our vacation; can’t somebody read meaning into it as a strategy to blackmail the legislature?

    “We had enough time to consider it before we went on our annual vacation if it had been brought earlier.”

    The budget was signed in June. The lacuna was seen and the need for virement. Why not present it soon enough? That might actually be a strategy to blackmail the NASS. It could have come a month or even two weeks earlier.

    “But must it be blackmail to achieve a purpose? Can’t dialogue be explored even as the budget came late, behind the scene for all of us working for the progress of this country?

    “Would it be strange for the topmost leadership of the executive and the legislature to meet behind the door and discuss the issue in the interest of Nigerians?

    “Threat of impeachment and blockade of the National Assembly should not have preceded dialogue between the two.

    “I will rather say that we should all act with free mind over this issue in the name of God and in the interest of the country.”

     

  • Lawmakers consider INEC’s N189.2b elections budget

    Work has begun on the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 elections.

    INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu yesterday defended the commission’s N189.2 billion budget at separate sessions with the Senate’s and House of Representatives’ committees on INEC.

    Yakubu, who gave a breakdown of the various components of the budget, told the lawmakers that preparations for the poll ought to have started by August 15 (yesterday).

    Documents submitted to the lawmakers by INEC indicated that election operational cost will cost N134.4bn; technology -N27.5bn; administrative cost -N22.6bn; and miscellaneous -N4.6bn.

    The INEC chair spoke of significant increase in the variables and logistics for the 2019 elections as against the 2015 polls that cost N120 billion.

    According to him, the commission will be conducting elections with about 91 political parties on the ballot. There are over 82 million registered voters.

    The voter population in 2015 was about 70 million, with about 40 political parties on the ballot.

    Yakubu said the figures could rise in the months ahead, as the commission still had 140 applications for party registration still pending; the voter registration has been extended by two weeks to end August 30.

    INEC will conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections in February. They will be followed by governorship elections in 29 states, alongside state assembly election in the 36 states.

    Also included in the budget is the cost of conducting elections into the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the expiration of the tenure of the elected officials coincides with the general elections.

    Also captured in the INEC budget is the Osun State governorship election coming up on September 22. The INEC chair said 48 political parties will participate in the Osun election.

    The Total cost for 2019 polls is N242, 445b, made up as follows: INEC to receive N189.207b, ONSA to get N4.2b, DSS to receive N12.213 b, NSCDC to get N3.573 b, NIS to get N2.628 b, Police to get N30.541 b.

    A breakdown of the police budget is: Police dogs N166,315m, Dogs’ medical/ general expenses N143,782m and 50 Polie horses’ feeding N7,719.4m.

    The chairman of the Senate committee, Suleiman Nazif, assured INEC of the legislature’s desire to expedite action on the budget, considering the time constraint.

    Nazif said the committee members will meet again today through Friday to fast track the process and refer the documents to the Appropriation Committee of the Senate.

    The chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on INEC, Mrs. Aisha Dukku, stressed the need for the parliament to approach the budget proposal from both process and content perspectives.

    Dukku told Yakubu: “It is only by so doing that one can begin to unravel the intricacies of the entire range of issues involved and their interconnectedness.

    “You will agree with me that for a government that promised change for its people, the foundation of this change ought to be evident in the way we plan our elections and electoral processes.

    “The estimates should represent a true picture of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).”

    She expressed concern over INEC’s previous budgets, saying they were neither productive nor effective because of poor planning.”

    “It is my prayer and hope that the present administration would address the issues with budgeting, especially as regards funding; unlike the previous budgets that were not productive in the entire planning of elections,” Dukku added.