‘President can’t dictate to N’ Assembly over N4.6b vehicles’ vote’
National assembly building
AS the plan by members of the National Assembly to spend N4.6 billion on vehicles continues to generate a controversy, two senators have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s position.
While the senator representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta North, Peter Nwaoboshi cautioned that the Senate should not by any means be mistaken as an appendage to the executive arm of government, his counterpart , Senator Abdullahi Adamu of All Progressives Congress (APC) Nasarawa State has urged critics to quote Buhari accurately on his position on the matter.
Nwaoboshi, who was the PDP chairman in Delta, said so far as purchase of the cars was within the budget of the National Assembly, it was unreasonable for other arms of government to dictate or decide for them on how to go about it.
“Although the resident had said during the media chat where the issue came up, that he was not sure about the plan and has promised to look into the issue, in any case, the said vehicles are still within our budget and if that be so, he cannot dictate to us what to do with it.”
According to the lawmaker, since the inauguration of the Eighth Senate, some unscrupulous Nigerians have been bent on ensuring the executive and legislative arms of government do not enjoy cordial working relationship.
He, however, stressed that despite attempts to ridicule the National Assembly, especially the Senate, the legislature remained an independent arm of government and would not succumb to undue interference or intimidation.
But rising in defense of Buhari, Adamu said: “What he said was that he will take a look at it before he makes his position known. But the mistake we are making as media is that we easily compare what happens in our country and what is happening in other countries.
“We easily compare a congressman in America or UK and a congress man in Nigeria. What we fail to realise is that I, as a senator did not create the situation the Nigerian senator finds himself in. I did not create the order the Nigerian senator finds himself in. America started somewhere and comparing America with us on where we are today as a benchmark is wrong.
‘‘The United Kingdom that was our colonial master did not start their democracy today. I believe we have what we can copy or learn and modify to suit our own condition.
“A congressman in the U.S. is not the same with ours here today. An American congressman does not have to come to the Congress. They have developed their system to that level. That our system is not the same thing with theirs is not my fault and the demands of the society on my office today require what an American congressman’s office does not require.
“I am not saying everything we do is correct. We are open to observations and corrections in the interest of the nation and democracy but what I am against is a wholesome comparison because the basis is not the same.”
The Senate had earlier, through its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, reacted sharply to allegations by online media that the National Assembly planned to expand the sum of N50 billion on purchase of cars for members in spite of transport expenses already incorporated in their remuneration.
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30 Comments
The President symbolizes the aspirations of the generality of Nigerians and by so doing, speaks for and protects our interest. The President was voted for national agenda and not local,senatorial, communal self interest.These prodigal men and women in the Senate should realize it is no longer business as usual as obtainable under GEJ through the office of the NSA. The nation can no longer afford their sleaze due to majority of Nigerians living in abject penury.In fact, the service to this poor nation should be on volunteer basis to free resources for meaningful development.
Don’t mind them. You’re right. That’s why the man rejected 400million Naira car budget for himself and accepted an estimate of 3.6billion naira for same purpose. That’s why he could agree to have all what the past administration had just renewed last year in the villa in his present budget, even on higher scale of prices. That is why even in the face of dwindling economy he could lift his personal budget bar above the past booming years by more than 11.5billion Naira. He really has our best interest at heart, these wailing wailers won’t just keep their mouths shut and let the man rest to enjoy his time. Don’t mind jare.
Continue dancing to the tune. You think Baba ever reasoned to talk to the NASS on anyti? It’s called “statement for the media, just for record purpose, for the gullible lazy brains” I hope u saw that chat and could deduce when someone meant what he says and when it’s been pushed to the person’s mouth, with a reluctant response from such person in a feeling of “just let this go already?” sai Baba nothing do you, it’s ur time, I pray the nation does not sink
“Don’t mind them. You’re right” That’s why he has recovered billions from “past booming years”. That is why this budget will be balanced due to stopping ostentatious wastages of booming years. That is why petro-dollars thieves are denied bail. That is why the senator that killed societe bank and a state in the middle belt is the senate president. That is why our former president’s nickname is Fortunato. That is why the sai Baba something won after the fourth attempt That is why the savages will get used to new order.Just be patient, the tune will soon be different and just dance to the new tune, well, you ain’t got no option; not in the next 31/2 years and you can bring the man from Otuoke to continue the years of the locusts. Insha allahu, Nigeria will not sink but float in abundance.
Amen!!! But can you tell us how much has been recovered from the booming years? Any idea? From who? Remember campaigns are over, it’s over 7months.
I can see ure very brilliant and intelligent sir, can u tell us how a nation in dire need of dollars and foreign inflows wud survive extensive borrowing in the wake of events unfavourable to her major source of revenue in which he could hope to repay? For instance we were promised a dollar to a Naira, but we buy at lowest 270 as of now, what will happen to this exchange rate by the time we commence this “scrupulous” step sir? Have you by chance, come across the terms and conditions from the Bretton woods institutions for accusation of loan? I’m sure you must have, been an enlightened fellow… so how do we get to balance the Naira in this regard sir? Are u aware of the huge amount we’re servicing on debt already frm that “dream budget ?” take ur calculator, nay, I don’t think u need one, intelligent people calculate using their fingers and toes, whatever, calculate the budget for education, power, works and transportation, how do these emergency sectors match up to the debt servicing of this year? Do you think with this humongous borrowings, next year debt servicing and the money going to the strategic ministries will be any better from this? OK, I recall the amount aimed at recovering from the past govt loots, please how do they come at that amount, to be channeled towards budget? I’m very much curious at that, considering the difference btw 64billion Naira independence celebration claim of Mr. El’Rufai which he alleged was spent in 5yrs, and the reality from the OSGF which came out to be around 300 million Naira, among other demystifications of facts and event during that “most corrupt era in Nigeria”….
Sir, It would have been best to go on if I’m sure you will respond to this little at all, a futile effort will it be to continue with you on this. I’m sure u can’t respond to all my questions, if at all you have the answers to any. We know how you guys operate. But it will be of good measure to have some of these issues treated for balanced knowledge. You know no knowledge is lost, aside the ones with unsubstantiated rants and cacophony.
I am not going to shy away from answering your questions as they border on moving our nation forward. Moreover , it is imperative that I acknowledge your decency,decorum and brilliance in public discourse compared to some half-literate “Wailing wailers” hauling insults at any given opportunity.The government is a continuum berate of vacuum, docility and hibernation;there is capital expenditure and recurrent or current expenditure. On occasions, constituted authority has to borrow to meet recurrent obligations and some of capital expenditures that pumps money into the economy to generate economic activities in both private and public sectors– salaries, pensions,defense,diplomatic missions and running of the government are examples of mandatory expenditure which with or without money government are mandated to fund. The richest nations are also the most indebted.This is done to keep the government alive and maintain the standard of living of their citizenry.
Nigeria’s case is very typical. The nation is not poor but continues to be classified as developing due to leakages, ignorance of the generality of the people and crass management of our resources.
To answer your question, governments the world over fund and govern their nations through Internally Generated Funds,receipts from exports[oil in Nigeria] and sizeable percent through loans—IMF,Paris club,Marshall plan, grants from other nations as in US aid to Israel and Egypt etc. Nigeria is endowed with oil and gas and proceeds from oil should have been enough to fund our government if not for the primitive tendencies of Nigerians to steal from their nation thereby holding and owning stash of foreign currencies in foreign banking vaults.Just the office of the NSA alone under GEJ was accused of dispensing over $2 billion electoral palm greasing in the last election.The money is there for PMB, if he can honestly harness our resources and stop stealing as they are now trying to do. As a matter of fact, only a fraction of oil receipts get int the nations coffers. Remember the three regional giants were able to run the country on cocoa, coal and groundnuts. Awolowo introduced television station, Olympic size stadium, Pilgrims board, Primary education as the first in the whole of Africa. The money is there, we just need to keep away these sticky fingers and reorient our people to lasting legacies compared to vanishing vanities. Thanks.
It will be of good tiding if we can all mature up to act civil this way in our comments here. Albeit, a little constructive abuse might be needed sometimes, especially when one is really thinking in a lobster style. This shud be guaranteed given that the person is going to talk sense still and not just ranting and escape approach manner of many here.
Having said that sir, sincerely you didn’t ans 1% of my questions. I believe the questions are still there opened to be seen. You didn’t satisfy my thirst/ignorance a bit. It’s no news nor research end that nations, even super nations, go on huge loans, but are you aware of the “servicing model?”. They have consistent policies that aid their loan servicing, not Nigeria. Not Nigeria where all we do is to discredit the predecessor, making sure their paths are on to reaching a dead block.
If not for the fact that the policies and paths the previous administration took on Agriculture, transportation, works, power, housing… are so expedient that the present stewards couldn’t shy away from but to declare publicly their will directly or indirectly to take them on, consistency and the continuum we claim govt is, have been an aberration in this part of the world. This is the same govt that have been accused of incompetence over and over again. But the fact is there, as they say, nothing is farther from that truth.
The presidential spokesman cannot not deny “with the fear of God” and sincerity to Nigerians and not his boss, that the past administration never purchased arms or made strides in the insurgency war, as he was closer to the events more than many journalist of that time. Read “late, but never too late” by this man, written sometimes in May 2015. I hope ure aware why the war took long to make strides as it did at the twilight of that administration. You must, cos u must be aware of the diplomatic brouhaha from the west, which later led to our SA black market deal quash. You can refer to one country in the world that never opt for black market in the face of heightened threat and pressure.
We’re not talking about those now though, I only tipped on that cos u made a clip regarding dt in ur response. Meanwhile marshal plan ended with the “cold war” sir, and I don’t think a Nation will be so “prudent” to pay debt using foreign grants. Foreign grants are given for specified purpose(s). The case studies you mentioned are mainly on “Security”. Egypt nor Isreal cannot take such for debt servicing. That being said sir, the oil which is our eyeing saving grace is where it is today, uncertainty personified I call it now. How do we repay this loans. Maybe I shud remind u that we’re at the brim of our debt portfolio already without a clear cut of servicing, Google is ur friend on this sir. The main dilemma now is what do we do with this loan? The rest of the budget seems unrealistic, vis a vis: hope from loot recovery from the past administration, Oil on 38$ per barrel( you must know what that price is saying now and the prediction for the future is gloomily), cutting cost( where in the whole of the budget can you identify this sir?)… the list for the unrealistic version of this bugdet goes on and on. Do we then need a prophet T.B to tell us the only substantive hope in that budget is the loan and the little from oil? Prolly adding little from the recovered loots, but certainly not as huge as they suggested, I can bet that sir. Integrity is tested, failure at each time diminish and consequently invade that status of trust. Referring to the truths coming out gradually on these supposed loots, as seen in the El’Rufai, Oshiomole, Ameachi… claims. I can bet you sir, that by the time the Dasukigate gets to be deliberated in court many hands will be falled, cos it is till then we can hear from both sides. Accusations from “one EFCC Source” to me, is noti to go by as it strictly d opinion of the govt that have convicted these people b4 trial, working from answers to questions. Although that’s their headache, they shud settle their political scores and stop dragging the interest of the populace or victims of BH into this. What have they done to fight the insurgency differently aside changing command Base and personnel? What have they done to alleviate our suffering as the volurable masses? Instead what we get is more hardship and pain and they’re telling us they’re fighting some group of people for our sake? Damn that thought. They shud settle their scores and just leave us out of this mess.
But to make this simpler sir, u can just go on to look at the previous questions in my first comment to you sir, and answer as it is, for clearer purpose. Thank you sir.
Damillola, they won’t understand you! They are swooning under the influence of phantasmagoria. The phantom is ‘change’. And the bewitching medium is LAIs. The bigger, the better! Anti-corruption begets pro-corruption budget 2016.
Are you not better off now than you were under the Iweala- Dasuki- Madueke-spend thrift Joe in the office of the NSA.. Change is very difficult when you life has been fashioned in a way that allows you get something for nothing. It is never too late to re-train and get a decent day job instead of stealing from poor Nigerians and sending them to early graves.
The budget was about 4.4trillion average in the oil boom years- even in an election year, and under PMB- 6.6 trillion when we no longer have money? With over 30% of the money borrowed and yet being told things will be difficult?
If budget was 4.4 trillion plus waste from corruption and things were not hard, why should things now be hard with 6.6 trillion plus removal of corruption-induced waste? Someone is lying to Nigerians….Someone is deceiving PMB. i do not trust all those book people he has surrounded himself with ooo
Buhari may be well intention-ed, but he does not have the requisite skill in technical areas. And those he trusts with those skills are padding the budget already and telling him a different sad story.
Governance is not brain surgery and you do not need doctorate degree in zoology to govern. I totally disagree with your summation that the president does not have what it takes to govern the country. Ronald Reagan was an actor and George Bush was a ‘C’ average student in college. PMB has the key attributes of a successive leader, which is discipline,integrity and patriotism. A tree does not make a forest, at the president’s disposal are qualified Nigerians in fields of all human endeavor.The election is over and we should stop unwarranted distractions to let the new party in power steer the ship of the nation. Understandably, it is with pain that the sore losers were stop from milking the nation through the office of the NSA. James, you got one thing right;”Buhari may be well intention-ed” and his surely is.
omoagbala60 said it all well. The president has the support of the whole country and he speaks for all. He can galvanize the population against the senate and the house. So they should stop wasting the money the country does not have but should concentrate on passing laws to create jobs and make life easy for all Nigerians.
You guys called senators are Capital fools.
With the dwindling economic situation of the country, must you spend such frivolous amount on the purchase of cars?
Sometimes, I wonder if you guys are sensitive to the plight of the so called Nigerians you are representing. Anyway, I am not surprised, because a lot of you came in through crucked means.
I think, you so called stupid and good for nothing senators should learn the fact that, the more you create an unabling environment through you lavish life styles, you can never enjoy your peace.
And treasury looters.
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WHEN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS IN THE LOOTING GEAR IN THE FORM OF SPENDING BILLIONS OF NAIRA ON THE PURCHASE OF NEW CARS WHILE THE EARLIER CARS ACQUIRED BY THE LOOTER MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY AND POT-BELLY CORRUPT SENATORS ARE RUNNING AND IN GOOD SHAPE AND ALSO WHEN THESE LOOTERS HAVE ALREADY HAD CAR LOANS AND HEAVY TRAVEL ALLOWANCES, THEY HAVE NO RIGHT WHATEVER, TO BUY NEW CARS. THE PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION THEM ABOUT THE LOOTING OF BILLIONS OF NAIRA FOR THE UNJUSTIFIED PURCHASE OF NEW CARS WHILE POOR MASSES OF NIGERIA CANNOT GET ONE GOOD MEAL A DAY.
NIGERIANS WILL, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, SUPPORT BUHARI IN HIS DRIVE TO DISMANTLE THE PURCHASE OF CARS BY THESE LOOTER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND CORRUPT SENATORS. THE BUSINESS CANNOT GO ON AS USUAL AND THESE GRAB-ALL, SHAMELESS LOOTERS OF NO CONSCIENCE, SHOULD LEARN TO BEHAVE AND LIVE WITHIN MEANS. BUHARI NEEDS TO BE VERY FIRM WITH THESE TREASURY LOOTERS ON THIS MATTER.
Dismantle the purchase of cars or the Assembly itself. .?
correct.
This senators are mad God go punish them when Nigerians they hungry na cars be their problem can you imagine,
The masses should go to that chamber of corruption and tell it to support and champion the anticorruption initiatives.. Labour has apparently compromised when it should roar a fire eater
I sincerely wonder if we still have any activist or groups again in this country. Where is NLC? Paper tigers.
Buhari can not dictate to you lot, but Nigerian can dictate to you. Because it is our collective money you are about to spend lavishly. No, it is unacceptable! Now, you living beyond your means while we are suffering.
Easy access to looting continues, reason you did not join the TSA.
Nwaoboshi’s party caused this mess we are into today. He should bury his head in shame. The days of chop I chop are over. He should take up employment and work harder to enjoy opulence instead of expecting it on a platter of gold for the single reason he is a rigged election senator. It is only in Nigeria politician do not have mercy on the common wealth of the nation. They want government to provide everything while 75% of other Nigerians live in abject poverty. The funny thing is most of them are LASU weekends Law graduates with little or no grasp of legal entity only to join politics and brandish half baked law degree to demand fabulous pay and allowances .
To listen to these criminal make their statement against the comparison, just goes to show how stupid they are. America and the UK are two of the richest countries, yet they don’t provide this kind of luxury for their law maker. The demand on their lawmaker is much more than what is demanded of Nigeria law makers. They perform more duties, yet this fools in Nigeria are demanding more. There should be massive protest against this fool. This are the kind of protest that labor should be pushing and doing, instead of fighting against subsidy removal. In a country where workers are not paid well, and the government owes months of salary, these criminal are constantly looting the country.
Are they even going to really protest on that subsidy? O.Y.O Na him we de bro.
No the President cannot dictate to t he NASS, no and all Nigerians know that. That said, however, the facts of the issue is the way the NASS appropriates huge funds to their persons all in the name of “oversight functions” which for all intents and purposes is under-sight. Under-sight in the sense the NASS id an unaccountable spendthrift. The NASS members want to award and execute contracts from buildings to maintenance at all levels. What then is the function of the Local Government Chairs, the State Governors and the President? Join the TSA at least to give Nigerian an open access as to how funds appropriated are expended since you are over and above the TIE that bound the Executives.
Peter Barawo, We the voters and not the president would have lot to say in Nigeria governance and every other activities either from executive, legislative and judiciary. We voters have the right to recall and vote you out if you fail to perform. Time has changed, we no more docile nigerians
Mr nwaoboshi Nigerians dont care anymore about whether the amount allocated to your cars are within your budget or not .Nigerians will need to scrap this scandalous SENATE. ! ! ! !.The caliber of people in the senate do not deserve to be paid even level 10. I think the Nass members has to be paid like civil servants ! ! ! Nigerians will rise up one day. You budget for these cars every election year . And the crooks keep on carrying the cars away without paying for them when they are voted out of power. Nigerians should rise up and REJECT THIS OBNOXIOUS PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM. The only lucrative job in Nigeria now is POLITICS AND CHURCHES ! ! ! ! ! ! !.
PRESIDENT HAS THE MANDATE OF NIGERIANS, SO YES, PRESIDENT BUHARI CAN RESIST UNREASONABLE LOOTING OF THE NIGERIAN TREASURY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY GOVERNMENT CAR LOANS AND HEFTY TRAVELING ALLOWANCES- THESE ROGUE SENATORS AND ASSEMBLY LOOTERS AND TREASURY SUCKERS.
Greed and grave can never be satisfied no matter how much it swallows. The nuture or attribute of Majority of Nigerians is greed irrespective of religion or ethic affiliations or affinity. Truth is almost dead in Nigeria that people feed more on lies and fantasies than on reality. Benin Republic and most of the surrounding countries do not have what Nigeria has in term of human and natural resources, yet they survive on their on rights as state because they seems to be contented with life. For greedy nation like us we think they are sub human and uncivilized because they do not aspire as we do in term of material possessions or highlife living. Every Nigerians including those in power never belief in communal sharing and living. Our life is deeply rooted in self and it’s indulgences at what ever cost without minding it short and long time implications on others as long it does not affects self. We are wicked and wasteful as a nation. The world knows us better than we know our selves. They accommodate us because of what they get from our uncontrollable lust to develop their own nations. They never care about what will befall us as a nation except for war not to break, which they will never want to tolerate us anywhere near them because of the destructive nature of our corruption.
Since W. BUSH left office, he hasn’t travel round the world on retirement instead live in his country of abode where he contributed his quota in building, but the case is different with our leaders and followers who are the accomplices and agents of corruption who make other country more holiday destinations and place of permanent resident even when they claim to be Nigerians. For those who could not stand the stench of hardship and corruption who left the shore of the country, are living slaves and third class citizens of the world like the Israelites in Egypt groaning to see the prosperity of their nation restore.
My pain is that most Nigerians don’t desire and love the country or are they bonded to the so call ethnic affinity either as majority or minority, except to the cluster of corrupted unions in the camouflage of political, social, human right or cultural entities that serve their interest above any other interest that is collective. This situation can never take us anywhere as a nation but to the path of destruction.
What we need at this junction is a collective stand to oppose any traces or figures of corruption by dealing with the already diagnosed or exposed corruption anywhere not only in the government, but in family, community, clubs, religion bodies and within self. The greater force take the day either anti corruption force or the corruption forces, to determine our destiny as a nation as well as individuals.
The battle line is drawn, we should take side in this campaign for a better and reduced corruption or for the worst corruption in the nation. Let us all speak of what we know as corruption from our little conners and give evidences or leading information that will unsettled the corrupt to either leave the country as usual or be prosecuted. Pressure should be mounted to legislators at all sphere to toughen the laws and policies that will create transparency and accountability.
For God sake this Senators should keep quiet the same Single Treasury Account is what South Africa is using for all spheres of government without problem why should it be a problem in Nigeria? If these people want to take the citizens for a ride, the Arab springs or Burkina Faso antecedent should take place in Nigeria too. This will be more applicable in with the current state of the nation to support the government or third force that will fight corruption, than calling for sectarian violent that will not solve the real core of our problem as a nation which is greed in the highest form of corruption.
Our almost useless National Assembly will loose the remaining shred of credibility if they go ahead with the purchase of these vehicles,….in a country where states are struggling to pay the minimum wage, these thieving legislators are collecting monetized allowances for vehicles and now purchasing vehicles through the back door!! At a time we have to borrow $11 billion to fund the budget, a handsome sum in billions of Naira is being wasted on official vehicles,…..useless!! The few credible legislators like Ben Bruce and Shehu Sani should speak up and reject this purchase!!
We will review and take appropriate action.