Reps score self high on anti-corruption crusade

The House of Representatives on Wednesday scored itself high in the ongoing fight against corruption, just as it warned against diversion of funds appropriated to the judiciary arm.

Aminu Shehu Shagari, chairman, House Committee on Federal Judiciary who stated this in Abuja, during the 2018 budget defence of National Judicial Council (NJC), harped on the need for effective preparation for the 2019 general elections.

Shagari who harped on the need for judicious utilisation of funds appropriated for various projects in 2018, reiterated the Committee’s resolve to ensure accountability of public fund allocated to the judiciary arm of government.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the N100 billion allocated to the judiciary since last year, the Sokoto lawmaker called for improved been budgetary allocation in the succeeding years.

“As the representatives of the people, the National Assembly is concerned about judicious use of funds. That is why we ensure every year that we conduct budget defence and perform our country oversight function painstakingly.

“Some of the exposure of corruption that has been made of recent cannot be divorced from the oversight function of the Parliament. We are determined to improve on our oversight function so that government can deliver services that will impact on the lives of the citizens significantly.

“Unfortunately, our well-intentioned efforts are misrepresented. We are not meddlesome interlopers, we are working in the spirit of the doctrine of separation of powers for the people who have elected us.

“This Committee through oversight will ensure that there is eagle-eyed monitoring of implementation of this budget especially to avoid illegal diversions and mismanagement of resources.

“However, this must not be misconstrued as the Legislature interfering with the operations of the judiciary, the Committee shall cooperate with the Judiciary to deliver on its Constitutional mandate but shall at the same time hold accountable by ensuring that available scarce resources are judiciously utilized,” Shagari told NJC chief.

The lawmaker who commended ongoing efforts by the present administration to get the Nigeria’s economy out of recession, however observed that Nigeria is “far from having a prosperous economy that we all desire for the nation. More work still has to be done by all of us both in the public sector and the private sector.

“We still need to think of more creative ways of growing our economy beyond the monthly sharing of the national revenue at the Federal Account Allocation Committee. We have no alternative than to seriously diversify the national economy, fight systemic corruption, consistently entrust the management of the economy to component hands,” Shagari urged.

While speaking, Ahmed Gambo, NJC Secretary who presented the 2018 budget proposal to the Committee, who noted that the Council achieved 100% budget implementation in 2017, disclosed that out of total sum of N100 billion approved by Federal Government for 2018, the sums of N53.191 billion is for federal courts while N11.300 billion is for State Courts.

He added that the sum of N26.902 billion is for capital expenditure for federal courts, N250 million to be drawn from Service Wide Vote; N4.107 billion for Pension and gratuity of federal judicial officers; N500 million staff pensions redemption bond; N1.307 billion for for retired justices; N1.260 billion for ICT for Nigerian judiciary; N600 million for health insurance scheme and N581 million for economic and financial crimes committee.

He added that budgetary provision was made for payment of severance allowance for the retiring judges, hence the slight increase in the overhead cost above what was provided for in the 2017 Appropriation Act.

According to him, some of the ongoing projects are expected to be completed in August, 2018.

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja