Senate is involved in the budget padding – Transparency Group member

A member of the Transparency Group in the House of Representatives, Muhammadu Bala Farouk (APC-Niger) on Wednesday accused the Senate of being accomplice in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

The Group also called on the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) not to interfere in the crisis but allow the law to take its rightful course.
Out of the sum of N100 billion approved for all the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, the sum of N40 billion was set aside for 20 principal officers of both chambers.

Recall that the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume had penultimate week dismissed Senate involvement in the budget scandal allegation rocking the Lower Chamber.
Farouk who raised the fresh alarm, alleged that over N40 billion is diverted yearly since 1999 adding that the fraudulent practices were perpetuated in conjunction with officials of various Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Some months ago, I spoke with a correspondent of the VOA on the issue of N100 billion that is always in our budget for constituency projects and this N100 billion I discovered over N40 billion is diverted every year in the last 16 years. So, with this issue now, God has just answered the prayer of Nigerians.
“Abdulmumin, to me, God has answered the prayers of Nigerians by opening their “yanshi” for Nigerians to know the skeleton they have in their cupboards. So, the issue of padding is just a simple way of saying legislative robbery, legislative stealing in collaboration with executives from our various MDAs. So, there is padding in our budget, which is illegal, unconstitutional, criminal, a lot of illegalities.

“Yes, it is Jibrin’s sack that has brought about these, and that was why I said that they are all birds of the same feather. But this revelation is very good for Nigeria. So today Abdulmumin doesn’t want to sink today alone,” he said.

While explaining the role played by the Senate in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget, Farouk alleged that “even in the Senate, they are all part of this padding mess we are talking about.

“Some of us from the Transparency Group met with Dogara on this issue and we told him we are in a change era so he should try and stop this idea of padding the budget, we advised him and he gave us assurance that he will ensure that padding in eliminated in our budget process, but he didn’t.
“So, we are also praying that the APC should not allow itself to be rubbished by this because in the past, the PDP. So since the APC was elected on the crest of change by the people, it should allow the law to take its course.

“We had this padding with Obasanjo, Late Yar’Adua and Jonathan. What I’m telling you is what they do is just insert these projects but the projects will not be executed but they will collaborate with MDAs and contractors and siphon these monies into their pockets.
“For instance, you can put ten projects in your constituency but only two may see the light of day. The remaining eight will siphoned into private pockets of lawmakers in collaboration with officials of MDAs. This has been happening over the years.
“Yes, it is a fact that he reacted because he was removed as chair of appropriation, but even at that, he was removed because he didn’t support the immunity amendment clause. He opposed them outrightly on the floor and since then, they swore to deal with him until he was removed. When he was removed, he also boasted that he must bounce back because he has all their dirty details.
“What speaker is saying in untrue. What the House spokesman, Namdas is saying is a lie and he should not divert the attention of Nigerians saying that Jibrin is attacking the institution of the National Assembly. His issue is the leadership because they are the main culprits in this allegations. So, what Dogara is saying is a lie.
“I’m not supporting Jibrin; I’m neither with Abdulmumin or Dogara; I’m for Nigerians. What we are saying is Nigerians should rise up at this time of change and fight budget padding and corruption in National Assembly. If we don’t do it now, we may never get it right. Even if our own mentor, Gbajabiamila is found wanting he should be investigated and prosecuted. Let the law takes its course.
“How can padding be constitutional? You can make some insertions in the budget, plus or minus, but you don’t make plus or minus to satisfy your selfish interest using National Assembly. Padding is illegal, unconstitutional, unpaliamentarian. How can you divert funds? Some of them divert N3 or N4 billion annually. If you want to follow this closely, I can assure you that 70 percent of the monies will go into private pockets people are only using to.
On the way forward, Farouk stressed the need for all National Assembly to carry along the electorates during the preparation of the budget, by ensuring transparent and open budgeting.
“Most of us are criminals. Unless we change. We have a lot of evidences. You were all living witnesses during the investigation of former DG of SEC, Arumah Oteh. You people were here when some of our colleagues were discgraced and that’s why we are calling on executives of MDAs to be transparent and wash their hands off
“What we saying is no Nigerian should be intimidated before this chambers again. Sanusi Sanusi was invited here and refused to be intimidated. He knew he was working on facts and he is honest. El-Rufai when he accused senators of demanding for N53 million from him to be cleared as minister said it openly. So, we have to be open in order to sanitise the system,” Farouk stressed.