The lawmaker stressed that one of the primary functions of the legislature is to approve budgets by looking at the economy of the country
Moshood Oshun said their resignation would allow for effective investigation into the allegations against them by Jibrin
Embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and all those indicted in the 2016 budget padding should tender their resignation as soon as possible, a Lagos lawmaker has advised.
Moshood Oshun, the chairman of the state House of Assembly committee on public account ( for state) gave the advise on Monday, August 1, 2016 as Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriation, delivered petitions to security and anti-graft agencies against Dogara.
Oshun said their resignation would allow for effective investigation into the allegations against them by Jibrin.
He however warned that the matter should be handled with caution just as he also said he would not take sides or conclude until investigation was fully conducted.
“If we are saying that the speaker should step down, other people that were accused with him should step down.
“I am not a member of the House of Representatives, but if he steps down, what happens after that? Will he be allowed to go back to the seat if he is innocent.
“Many people were complaining when President Muhammadu Buhari delayed in signing the 2016 budget, but if what is happening now is substantiated, that means he was right,” he said.
Oshun stressed that one of the primary functions of the legislature is to approve budget by looking at the economy of the country and the available funds.
He added that the legislators needed to know what the people want while looking at the budget.
According to him, it is not enough to say one wants to build a hospital when what the people need is a school.
He also said a legislative house has the right to either reduce the budget, leave it as it is or increase it depending on what it feels the people need.
Oshun, who represents Mainland constituency 2, said there have been allegations and counter-allegations over the issue, but that the people still need to wait to see the end of the matter.
“Dogara said it did not happen and the former chairman of the appropriation committee, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, said that it was padded after it had been approved by the House.
“So, the whole thing has to be investigated.
“Inviting the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the matter would reduce the power of the House because the House has the right to regulate itself.
“The legislators have the right to reduce or increase the budget once they feel it is good for the benefit of the people.
“If the House feels that a project, like a hospital is needed in Lagos Mainland for instance, we would approve it regardless of the contractor that would handle it.
“Where I have problem is when something is added after the budget has been passed by the House,” he said.
He emphasised that it was not wrong for the House to have a team to discuss with the executive arm to work on the budget for for the interest of Nigerians.
“We don’t have to fight because we belong to different arms of government.
“What we should be interested in is to do things that would benefit the people as legislators representing the people,” he said.
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