2018 Budget: Group Cries Out, Want N’Assembly Cautioned Over Budget Handling

A socio-political organization, Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), has called on Nigerians to halt the National Assembly’s annual legislative high handedness on budget passage, reminding them of the confidence reposed in them by the people.
The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Razaq Olokoba observed that, it has become the antics of the Federal Lawmakers that we hold in high esteem, to use the budget passage period as a trap to hold the country hostage hiding under the excuses that are suspected to be selfish and unpatriotic.

The group noted with dismay, the way and manner the budget on Power was handled by the National Legislators recently when they unduly embarrassed the Minister in charge, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

“The undue embarrassment became more worrisome when viewed against the background that Minister’s performance in his Ministry in the recent time has won him accolade from the public who are convinced that power has become more stable under him,” the group stated.

According to the statement, the National Assembly is suspected to have hidden agenda under the guise of oversight functions, cautioning that, “if Nigerians do not rise to stop the Federal Legislative Houses from pulling the country back every time they are called upon to handle the budget issues with patriotism, the country would be worse for it.”

The group warned further that the Parliament should not behave in a manner that the public would view its conduct as opposition induced sentiment that would erode their confidence from the people’s mind.

Citing another example, the statement reminded the public about the issue of the 2018 budget presented to the House by President Muhhamadu Buhari which it said is being treated with levity, saying that the early passage of the document which the President envisaged is now being threatened.

The group assured that its call on Nigerians to call the National Assembly to order on the vexatious matter is not at all aimed at inciting the public against the honourable lawmakers, but just a clarion call for good governance, pointing out emphatically that, if the Parliament is not checked, the main aim of President Buhari to hit the ground running next year could be jeopardised and become a pipe dream.