‘Jibrin should present proof of alleged budget padding’

The chairman of the House of Representative’s Committee on Media, Abdulrakas Namdas, has  refuted allegations made by the former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Addressing journalists in the National Assembly, Namdas said that the lawmaker has by his actions gone ahead to confirm why he was removed from his position.

Jibrin had accused the House of representatives’ Speaker and other principal officers of playing major roles in the controversial 2016 budget padding

Through its Committee on Media chairman, the House has challenged the former chairman to present credible and authentic documents to back his claims of wrongdoing against principal officers in the House.

When the House of Representatives adjourned plenary on Thursday for their annual recess, no one had an idea of what was to follow.

Since then, the former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation has demanded that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House resign having made several allegations against them.

The Spokesman of the House has addressed some of the allegations made by Jibril.

He listed the alligations against Jibril to include.

He went on to accuse Jibrin of the following:

A. Immaturity and lack of capacity to handle the Office of Chairman, Appropriations

B. Tendency and proclivity to blackmail colleagues and high government officials and misuse and mishandle sensitive government information

C. Unacceptable Mismanagement Of The 2016 Budgetary Process.

On to the allegations of budget padding, the House spokesman said that the 8th House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, has not deviated from established practices, precedents and traditions.

“The powers of the National Assembly on appropriation are clearly spelt out in Sections 4, 59 and 80 (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

“Section 4, empowers the National Assembly to make laws for good governance of the federation while Section 59 confers on the Legislature final say on the budget.

“When therefore, the National Assembly appropriates funds in the budget, it can never under any circumstances or guise be deemed or regarded as tinkering or padding.”

The House says the whole saga is an internal matter and in accordance with its rules, the House Committee On Ethics and Privileges will investigate the allegations made by Abdulmumin Jibrin and he will be afforded the opportunity of fair hearing.