Saraki writes Obasanjo, vow to cut excess expenditure, fight corruption in the house

Cat:

Related stories

Natasha vs Akpabio: Court Orders Senate President To Recall Senator Natasha

Warns Natasha Against inappropriate Conduct By Abiola Olawale The Federal...

Hadi Sirika Denies Defection to ADC Coalition Rumors, Reaffirms Loyalty to Buhari, APC

By Abiola Olawale Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has...

China Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade Restarts

China has avoided buying U.S. crude oil for three...

Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai Passes Away at 61

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian football community has been thrown...

Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in October

By Abiola Olawale Masobe Books, a renowned publisher has announced...

The President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, has formally replied a letter ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to the National Assembly on January 13, accusing the country’s federal lawmakers of corruption, greed, lawlessness and impunity.

In his reply, dated January 29, and exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Saraki responded to Mr. Obasanjo’s concern, saying the 8th National Assembly under his leadership was already taking deliberate steps to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and ensure prudent management of resources.

“This is to ensure that we plug all leakages and minimize waste across our expenditure systems,” the Senate president said in the two-page letter.

“Likewise, the 8th National Assembly has made the issue of plugging leakages and cutting wastages in our public expenditure system a major priority that should not be toyed with. This may have happened in the past but it will not happen with us.”

The former president had in his letter, addressed to Mr. Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, accused the lawmakers of fixing and earning salaries and allowances far above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved for them.

He also alleged that most of the 109 senators and 369 members of the House of Representatives were receiving constituency allowances without maintaining constituency offices as the laws required of them.

He faulted the plans by the lawmakers to acquire new exotic cars for themselves, saying, “Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive.”

He advised that “a pool of a few cars for each chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty.”

“The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption,” Mr. Obasanjo said. “That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

But in his response, Mr. Saraki told the former president that the lawmakers were fully aware of the challenges the nation was facing, saying, “As leaders with a duty, we will not disappoint Nigerians in their yearnings for a more transparent public expenditure system.”

On corruption, Mr. Saraki said the National Assembly was working with President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the menace in the country.

According to him, the legislature was already overhauling its oversight functions to make it more effective in exposing corruption in federal ministries, departments and agencies.

“We are hand in glove with the president on this matter and this is why we are overhauling our oversight functions to make it more effective in exposing corruption in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” the senate president said.

“We recognize the hard work our anti-corruption agencies are putting into this fight.

“The Senate is resolved to support them to perform their duty effectively by providing them with adequate funding where necessary, as their work in integral to our oversight responsibility.”

Mr. Obasanjo had written the National Assembly to amplify widespread concerns that federal lawmakers were insensitive to the economic hardship facing their country, and had continued to live in opulence at taxpayers expense.

Even as the Senate President’s letter travelled to Mr. Obasanjo, the federal lawmakers were taking delivery of exotic cars for themselves even when the nation’s monetisation policy forbids them from doing so.

The acquisition of the cars was also done in disregard of the advice of the former president urging the lawmakers to discard the plan.

The National Assembly is yet to make details of its 2016 budget public despite widespread calls on them to emulate the other arms of government – the executive and the judiciary – and do so.

See Mr. Saraki’s letter below.

SKSK 1

Culled From Premium Times
Culled From Premium Times
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Natasha vs Akpabio: Court Orders Senate President To Recall Senator NatashaHadi Sirika Denies Defection to ADC Coalition Rumors, Reaffirms Loyalty to Buhari, APCChina Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade RestartsSuper Eagles Icon Peter Rufai Passes Away at 61Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in OctoberOil Prices Dip on Confirmation of Inventory BuildBuhari In Stable Condition - Ex-Aide ConfirmsBREAKING: Ex-President Buhari sick, hospitalised abroad2027: Abure, Usman Clash Over Peter Obi’s Rising Profile in ADC CoalitionMTN’s Dabengwa Tier III Cloud Data Centre: A New Era for West African Tech and AIGanduje: Why are they resigning?OPEC Reports a Global Oil Production Decline in 2024IMF Warns FG to Overhaul 2025 Budget to Prevent Economic Meltdown2027: Peter Obi Vows, Says ADC Coalition 'll prioritize Nigerians’ WelfareTragedy! Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies in Car Crash in Spain
X whatsapp