Lies in the Red Chamber

I carried out a research on the different types of lies and came up with astonishing findings. There are over 30 types of lies ranging from white lie, lie-to-children, perjury, pathological lie, noble lie, lying in trade, fabrication etc.
Many countries have enacted consumer protection laws intended to combat lying in trade; where the seller of a product or service advertises lies about their product or service in order to gain competitive advantage. This informed the establishment of the Consumer Protection Council – the apex consumer protection agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria – that holds a seller liable for omission of any material fact that the buyer relies upon.
At Senate plenary last week, a blatant lie by a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sent lawmakers reeling with uncontrollable laughter.
It happened during the presentation of reports on the 2016 budgets of the various federal agencies by the relevant committees. The report of the Committee on Privatisation on the 2016 budget of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was stepped down due to the absence of the chairman, Ben Murray Bruce.
However, midway into the presentation of reports by other committees, a mild drama ensued when the Chairman Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Rafiu Ibrahim moved the motion that the Senate receive the report of his committee on the 2016 budgets of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and National Insurance Commission (NIC).
At this point, Bruce, popularly called Mr. Commonsense, walked into the chamber to take his seat.
And in line with Senate Standing Order, Senate President Bukola Saraki who presided over the session, called on the Bayelsa-born senator to second the motion.
Unknown to him, he thought the Senate President was asking him to move the motion for the presentation of his committee’s report, to which he stood up and answered, “Mr President, unfortunately the report is not ready”. He was, however, unlucky as his vice, Abdullahi Yahaya, gave the report to him.
The development heralded laughter from legislators because the Commonsense senator not only lied about the committee’s report but also failed to realised that he was called upon to second a motion.
Talking about lies, the debate on the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), stirred up anger among senators who described the budget framework as ’empty’ and lacking in credibility.
Although the Red Chamber had earlier returned the document to the President for lack of details, the legislative body debated the proposal following the failure of the Executive to send the necessary documents.
The president’s proposal is based on the assumptions of average oil production of 2.2mbpd, average oil price of USD 42.5 per barrel and exchange rate of N290 per dollar for 2017.
It also indicated that the government is projecting a 3.02 percent GDP growth in 2017, while inflation is projected at 12.92 percent for next year.
Irked by the failure of the President to submit fresh documents, senators wondered how the Buhari administration would turn around the economy in 12 calendar months without economic blueprint.

Senators were also angered by revelations that the 2017 budget had been prepared, for onward presentation on December 1, with the same faulty proposals.
From Biodun Olujimi, Adeola Olamilekan, Dino Melaye, Samuel Anyanwu, Joshua Lidani, Suleiman Adokwe, Bayero Nafada to Emmanuel Paulker, they averred that the proposal should be ignored until the President submit the relevant document, which would enable senators take informed position on the matter.
Melaye harped on the need for honesty at all times when he said: “If I tell the truth, I will die; if I lie, I will also die. I have decided to tell the truth because I will also die”.
The development also forced the upper chamber to step down the report of the Committee on Appropriations on the virement N180billion from the Special Intervention programme to fund critical projects in this year’s budget.
Nine bills passed first reading last week. They include: Open Distance Learning Bill, Corporate Affairs Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, Special Funds Account Management Bill, National Fertilizer (Quality Control) Bill, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Court Bill, Presidential Inauguration Bill, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Bill and National Commission for Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees and Migrant Bill.

 

Owede Agbajileke