NASS Bribed by Finance Minister to Overlook the $46​9​ million Illegally Spent by President Buhari, ANRP Opines

ABUJA, 16 May 2018 — Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) has scored the National Assembly low and described it as the weakest link in Nigeria’s democratic experience since return to civil rule in 1999.

The National Assembly, the Party stated, right from the outset in 1999 till date, has ​somehow ​been populated by some of our most unpatriotic, self-serving, self-centred politicians. For instance, in 1999 when military rule was over after 16 years with Nigeria returned to a democracy, as soon as Senators resumed office at the National Assembly (NASS) they paid themselves 5 million naira as ‘furniture allowance’. At this time the Federal Government minimum wage for workers was five thousand, two hundred naira (N5,200.00).

Today, 19 years on they collect N13.5 million whilst members of the House of Representatives collect N12 million monthly as ‘running costs’. Nigeria’s National Assembly is the most expensive Legislature in the world, in terms of pay structure, with arguably the highest truancy rate of members. This, in a country with the largest number of desperately poor people and the highest percentage of people living in abysmal poverty in the world.

Just recently, as reported by the media, NASS squandered N10 billion of extra-budgetary expense with the active connivance of Ms Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance. Some assert that this was meant as bribe by the Executive arm to prevent NASS from investigating the $46​9​ million purportedly spent by the President to procure fighter aircraft from the United States of America, without appropriation, which in itself is an impeachable offence.

NASS remains today a most disregarded and undermined arm of the Government and institution of the Federal Republic.

​Yet t​he Legislature is the symbol of a democracy. Our democratic experience remains infantile for the singular reason that this institution which should provide legislation, representation, oversight, as well as appropriation and consent has been the weak link.

​To add to the litany of woes, the National Assembly has been unable to pass the 2018 budget after 6 months.

There are also key pieces of legislation that have been pending in NASS some for close to 2 decades, some of which include the complete Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) since 2000, ​and ​the Education Sector Reform Bill since 2006, ​among a great many others. NASS ​members ​ha​ve​ enormous powers to reform the country for the benefit of all, but prefer using such privileges for personal deal making.

​If democracy ​is still a government of the people ​for the people, ​and by the people, it behooves on the people to focus more attention​ on​, and to rise up to hold the National Assembly to ​greater scrutiny. It is important to focus more on the quality and track record of patriotic service of persons elected into the Legislature.

The Legislature also is the only arm of the Government whereby elected officials can be recalled. ANRP calls on citizens to brace up to exercise these rights more frequently, diligently, and robustly.

Join us. Learn more about us at: www.anrp.org.ng and Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube: @AbundantNigeria

Sesugh Akume
National Spokesman

Office Telephone: 09064796674 (9 am – 5 pm)
Email: nationalspokesman@anrp.org.ng