Reps summon minister for ‘starving National Assembly, judiciary of funds’

MINISTER of Finance Zainab Ahmed is to appear before the House
of Representatives Finance Committee to explain the reasons behind
the non-release of 2018 budgetary allocations to the National
Assembly and the judiciary.

The lawmakers, though conceded that the National Assembly
workers deserved a good working condition and have a right to
protest poor treatment, they, however, took exception to be
prevented from carrying out their legislative duties by protesting
parliamentary workers on Tuesday.

The invitation to the minister followed the adoption of a motion
by Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau), who expressed concern that despite
being on first line charge, budget releases to the Judiciary and
the legislature have been dismal, thereby creating challenges for
the management to pay their workers.

House spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) said the
workers’ action, which prevented the lawmakers from holding a
session, was unlawful according the Legislative Houses and
Privileges Act.

He said: “It is an offence to stop the members from sitting. It
is just that we cannot without them. We cannot sit aloof. The
action that took place

on Tuesday is not lawful. If we apply the law, it will not be
good.

“We have summoned the minister to appear before us. The money
was captured in 2018 budget and it has not been released. So, we
can’t give what they want because we don’t have.

“We are of the opinion that the management staff of the National
Assembly should have good condition of service. For us to function
effectively, we need a very functional management staff. The
protest is strictly not against the members of the National
Assembly.

“The CNA has also explained why. The Senate President and the
Speaker do not have access to these funds.”

Regretting that it was the non-release of the funds that
eventually led to the protests, Pwajok noted that “Parliamentary
Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) protested against the
non-release of their benefits, including promotions and other
entitlements.

“It is disturbing that the non-release is as a result of the
non-implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Act of the National
Assembly despite the fact that the National Assembly and the
judiciary are on the first line charge and there ought to be full
implementation of the budget of the two arms of government”.

The committee was given one week to report back to the House for
further legislative action after it was unanimously adopted in a
voice vote.

Related