By Soni Daniel

Abuja—The tussle between the National Assembly and the Presidency over passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework necessary for the preparation and the passage of the 2017 budget, may linger for sometime because of the inability of the Federal Government to release the lump sum of N100 billion for the execution of constituency projects by federal lawmakers.

Vanguard learned from authoritative National Assembly sources that the lawmakers were upset by the non-release of the sum of N100 billion, which the Executive had approved for the lawmakers to execute their constituency projects barely a month to the end of the year.

The action of the Presidency, a top National Assembly official said, was provocative and unjustifiable, given the claim by the same Federal Government that more than N900 billion had been for capital projects this year without considering it necessary to pay the constituency funds for the lawmakers’ projects.

Some of the lawmakers, who spoke in confidence to Vanguard last night, said it was clear to them that the Federal Government was deliberately holding on to the funds under the excuse of lack of money to execute the projects, which had always been given to them by successive administrations before Buhari.

“What does the Buhari government take us for? One aggrieved lawmaker asked rhetorically.

“As far as we are concerned, the Buhari administration does not just want to release the money for us to take care of our respective constituencies, apparently to put us at odds with our people.

“Where did they get the money to do other capital projects without having same to pay for our constituency projects?’’ another angry lawmaker queried.

Vanguard gathered that apart from the non-release of the N100 billion for the projects, the lawmakers, cutting across the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, are also unhappy with the Buhari administration for not consulting them before making major appointments in the country.

The NASS hierarchy is said to be upset that Buhari bypassed most of them and make major board and ambassadorial appointments affecting their constituencies thereby rendering them irrelevant politically unlike in the past when such appointees were largely nominated by them.

Vanguard learned from authoritative National Assembly sources that the lawmakers were upset by the non-release of the sum of N100 billion, which the Executive had approved for the lawmakers to execute their constituency projects barely a month to the end of the year...

“As far as we are concerned, the Buhari administration does not just want to release the money for us to take care of our respective constituencies, apparently to put us at odds with our people.

....are also unhappy with the Buhari administration for not consulting them before making major appointments in the country.......rendering them irrelevant politically unlike in the past when such appointees were largely nominated by them.

Progressive01:
When i read that news yesterday, i knew there was a foul smelling rotten fish somewhere, and here it is!

The chances that ANY of our lawmakers' decision or choice of action is altruistic is one in a trillion.

You can always bet your life savings on the fact the self serving insatiable glutons will always put their stomachs first and be rest assured you wont lose it.

What a darn shame.

modath:


Gist is that some of dem lawbreakers are owing banks as much as 2-400m in actual loan and interest accruals that keep growing by the day.. Funds they expended on party nomination & bribes with plans o short span recoup & endless balling....They will be regretting their decisions now.....

some may likely have their properties foreclosed on soon...

How ya doin?

Atiku2019:
This Country self


#Atiku2019

ijustdey:


tell him we are tired of the same old horse parading the seat of power....




we need fresh blood with new ideas
cc lalasticlala...... carry am to promise land

GenBuhari:
Lawmakers opening they mouth and questioning the accuracy that has taken teams of top accountant and economist in the country months of hard work to produce.

Situation would be laughable if it weren't so serious.

omofunaab:



We have economists among the lawbreakers too

Atiku2019:
This Country self



#Atiku2019

GenBuhari:
Quack economist who do not seem to understand that it is impossible to comment on validity of a fiscal documents until you have all the facts and knowledge of situation on ground.
You rightly called them lawbreakers was that a Freudian slip or your intention?