Reps to decide deployment of troops during elections

• Names panel on 2015 budget, MTEF

APPARENTLY worried by an audio recording on the elections in Ekiti State, which went viral on the social media recently, the House of Representatives will  Thursday at plenary deliberate on the propriety or otherwise of continuous deployment of troops during elections in the country.

   This followed the adoption of a motion, which urged the parliament to investigate the audio recording, which purportedly captured the role allegedly played by the military during the last elections in Ekiti.

   Moving the motion, Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, urged the House “to address and look critically whether or not the military has a role” in subsequent elections in the country.

   “It is a matter that is very important. It is a matter that this House has to address to determine whether the military has a role to play in our elections,” Gbajabiamila said.

   But the Chamber yesterday turned down another motion which sought the leave of the House to summon Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega to appear before the parliament to explain the reasons for the postponement of the February elections and update it on the level of preparedness of the commission to conduct the rescheduled polls next month.

   The motion introduced by the Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor citing the House rules bothering on matters of urgent national importance was rejected by members in a voice vote when the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal put the question for a decision on the subject.

   Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has constituted a special committee to engage the Ministry of Finance as well as officials of the Budget Office to work out a realistic oil benchmark for the 2015 budget and the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

   The 2015 budget estimate had pegged the oil benchmark at $65 per barrel. But currently, crude oil is selling below $65 in the international market hence the need for a review and harmonisation.

   The Chamber named the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, John Enoh as leader of the 17-member panel.

   The Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had while welcoming his colleagues from break on Tuesday urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the 2015 budget, stating that, “the first crucial task before us is the 2015 budget proposal, which is at committee stage.”

   “I urge that the belated submission notwithstanding, we owe our country a duty not only to pass this Appropriation Bill speedily but also with due diligence and thorough scrutiny. As we deliberate, we must take cognizance of the prevailing global economic realities,” Tambuwal said.