FORMER president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has written to
the two chambers of the National Assembly, asking them to rescind the decision
to purchase cars valued at N 4.7 billion.
Obasanjo, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, dated January 13, 2016, stated that the National Assembly had kept its budgeting procedures opaque and in conflict, against the legally approved votes guaranteed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
But the special adviser to the Senate President on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Wednesday, said the Senate President would only acknowledged receipt of the letter from Obasanjo.
He declined further comments when asked whether his boss would make the letter available to other senators.
Obasanjo wrote: “On a few occasions in the past, both in and out of office as the president of Nigeria, I have agonised on certain issues within the arms of government at the national level and among the tiers of government as well.
Obasanjo, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, dated January 13, 2016, stated that the National Assembly had kept its budgeting procedures opaque and in conflict, against the legally approved votes guaranteed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
But the special adviser to the Senate President on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Wednesday, said the Senate President would only acknowledged receipt of the letter from Obasanjo.
He declined further comments when asked whether his boss would make the letter available to other senators.
Obasanjo wrote: “On a few occasions in the past, both in and out of office as the president of Nigeria, I have agonised on certain issues within the arms of government at the national level and among the tiers of government as well.
Not least, I have reflected and expressed, outspokenly at
times, my views on the practice in the National Assembly, which detracts from
distinguishness and honourability, because it is shrouded in opaqueness and
absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and
decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary.”
He insisted that the state of the nation’s finances at this time should compel the National Assembly to withdraw the huge amounts it planned to spend on cars.
“The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. The executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard.
“And if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally. The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day.
He insisted that the state of the nation’s finances at this time should compel the National Assembly to withdraw the huge amounts it planned to spend on cars.
“The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. The executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard.
“And if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally. The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day.
The rainy day is now here. It would not work that the two
arms should stand side by side with one arm pulling and without the support of
the other one for good and efficient management of the economy,” he added.
He queried the patriotism and nationalism in the lawmakers, adding that as a former president, he had been harassed with possible impeachment for challenging the legislature and refusing to release funds illegally inserted into the national budget.
He also accused the lawmakers of corruption, asking them to publish their earnings for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, while also comparing their earnings with that of some neighbouring countries.
“By our constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and judiciary. The commission did its job but by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm, if necessary.
“Mr President of the Senate and Honourable Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance.
“Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet, other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the members’ emoluments.
He queried the patriotism and nationalism in the lawmakers, adding that as a former president, he had been harassed with possible impeachment for challenging the legislature and refusing to release funds illegally inserted into the national budget.
He also accused the lawmakers of corruption, asking them to publish their earnings for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, while also comparing their earnings with that of some neighbouring countries.
“By our constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and judiciary. The commission did its job but by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm, if necessary.
“Mr President of the Senate and Honourable Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance.
“Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet, other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the members’ emoluments.
Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional. There is
no valid argument for this except to see it for what it is – law-breaking and
impunity by lawmakers. The lawmakers can return to the path of honour,
distinguishness, sensitivity and responsibility.
“The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia, which are richer and more developed than we are,” Obasanjo added.
The former president submitted that while the budget was a proposal and only an estimate of income and expenditure, the votes could only be met where adequate finances were made.
“Where income is inadequate, expenditure will not be made. While in government, I was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support.
“The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia, which are richer and more developed than we are,” Obasanjo added.
The former president submitted that while the budget was a proposal and only an estimate of income and expenditure, the votes could only be met where adequate finances were made.
“Where income is inadequate, expenditure will not be made. While in government, I was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support.
“The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into
the same category. Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and
insensitive. A pool of a few cars for each chamber will suffice for any
committee chairman or members for any specific duty. The waste that has gone
into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and
these were veritable sources of waste and corruption,” he added.
He said that the waste embedded in the purchase of cars and furniture was responsible for the decision to abolish them under his tenure, adding that the development was inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Obasanjo further lectured the legislators thus: “The way of proposing budget should be for the executive to discuss every detail of the budget, in preparation, with different committees and sub-committees of the National Assembly and the National Assembly to discuss its budget with the Ministry of Finance.
He said that the waste embedded in the purchase of cars and furniture was responsible for the decision to abolish them under his tenure, adding that the development was inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Obasanjo further lectured the legislators thus: “The way of proposing budget should be for the executive to discuss every detail of the budget, in preparation, with different committees and sub-committees of the National Assembly and the National Assembly to discuss its budget with the Ministry of Finance.
Obasanjo further lectured the legislators thus: “The way of
proposing budget should be for the executive to discuss every detail of the
budget, in preparation, with different committees and sub-committees of the
National Assembly and the National Assembly to discuss its budget with the
Ministry of Finance.
“Then, the budget should be brought together as consolidated budget and formally presented to the National Assembly, to be deliberated and debated upon and passed into law.
“It would then be implemented as revenues are available. Where budget proposals are extremely ambitious like the current budget and revenue sources are so uncertain, more borrowing may have to be embarked upon, almost up to 50 per cent of the budget or the budget may be grossly unimplementable and unimplemented.
“Neither is a choice as both are bad. Management of the economy is one of the key responsibilities of the president as prescribed in the constitution. He cannot do so if he does not have his hands on the budget. Management of the economy is shared responsibility where the presidency has the lion share.
“The beginning of good governance, which is the responsibility of all arms and all tiers of government, is openness and transparency. It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy.
“A situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated 2 million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and we have no assurance of producing 2 million barrels and, if we can, we have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution.
“If production and price projected in the budget stand, we would have to borrow almost one third of the N6 trillion budget. Now, beginning with the reality of the budget, there is the need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent.”
He called on the lawmakers to adopt the path of honour and transparency, adding that “honestly, the National Assembly will take a step back and do what is right, not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management, including audit of its accounts by external outside auditor from 1999 to date.
“This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters.”
Speaking on the letter, the Senate President, Dr Saraki, acknowledged its receipt, adding that he was still studying its content.
He hinted that he would formally write a reply to the former president soon.
Speaking through Olaniyonu, Saraki insisted that he would officially communicate the former president on the issues he raised.
“The Senate President has acknowledged that he has received the letter and that he would formally communicate the former president,” Olaniyonu said.
“Then, the budget should be brought together as consolidated budget and formally presented to the National Assembly, to be deliberated and debated upon and passed into law.
“It would then be implemented as revenues are available. Where budget proposals are extremely ambitious like the current budget and revenue sources are so uncertain, more borrowing may have to be embarked upon, almost up to 50 per cent of the budget or the budget may be grossly unimplementable and unimplemented.
“Neither is a choice as both are bad. Management of the economy is one of the key responsibilities of the president as prescribed in the constitution. He cannot do so if he does not have his hands on the budget. Management of the economy is shared responsibility where the presidency has the lion share.
“The beginning of good governance, which is the responsibility of all arms and all tiers of government, is openness and transparency. It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy.
“A situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated 2 million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and we have no assurance of producing 2 million barrels and, if we can, we have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution.
“If production and price projected in the budget stand, we would have to borrow almost one third of the N6 trillion budget. Now, beginning with the reality of the budget, there is the need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent.”
He called on the lawmakers to adopt the path of honour and transparency, adding that “honestly, the National Assembly will take a step back and do what is right, not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management, including audit of its accounts by external outside auditor from 1999 to date.
“This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters.”
Speaking on the letter, the Senate President, Dr Saraki, acknowledged its receipt, adding that he was still studying its content.
He hinted that he would formally write a reply to the former president soon.
Speaking through Olaniyonu, Saraki insisted that he would officially communicate the former president on the issues he raised.
“The Senate President has acknowledged that he has received the letter and that he would formally communicate the former president,” Olaniyonu said.
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