…Non implementation of budget impeachable offence, says Urhoghide A war of attrition may be brewing between the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal. The Senate yesterday summoned Lawal to appear before it to explain his alleged unsavory comments on 2016 constituency project implementation. The invitation followed adoption of a motion by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South). The motion almost threw the chamber into a rowdy session due to divergent views on the SGF’s comment. Urhoghide, in his lead debate said that his representation as a Senator was being threatened by the SGF. He said that the SGF was copiously quoted to have declared that the 2016 approved constituency projects would not be implemented. He noted that the declaration by the SGF was a threat to his representation. The Edo South lawmaker said that one of the statutory roles of a Senator was to represent his constituents. He noted that it was unbecoming of the SGF to declare that N60 billion constituency projects in a budget of N6.08 trillion would not be implemented. He added, “The budget is a law. Any violation of the budget is a violation of the law. It is an impeachable offence to violate the budget and we are not going to allow that. There is overwhelming hatred for the National Assembly.” Urhoghide said that the SGF should be summoned within the least possible time, within the next 48 hours, to explain why he declared that the constituency projects would not be implemented. The lawmaker noted that if the projects were not implemented, he would have nothing to show his constituents for his representation. The Senate, he said, should take the comments of the SGF seriously if it wanted to be taken seriously. Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who seconded the motion, however said that the Senate should not dignify a statement from “improper authority.” Na’Allah who was initially evasive on the subject matter of the motion noted that Lawal was reported to have said could not be the position of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said, “I wish to state that this Senate will be doing a lot of good to democratic process. It is precise to recognise some certain issues that are very fundamental. “This Senate is aware that SGF is not the Finance Minister, this Senate is equally aware that he is not a minister of budget, this Senate is equally aware that the SGF is not spokesperson of the Federal Government. I want to say that what was alleged to have been said by the SGF cannot be the position of Mr. President. “We should not dignify comments coming from improper authority. The SGF does not have the authority to speak for the Federal Government.” Na’Allah had hardly sat down when Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, said that whatever comes the SGF as the highest nominee of the Federal Government should not be taken lightly. Olujimi said, “The SGF is the highest administrative nominee of this government and whatever comes out of his mouth must be a policy statement that has to do with government. “I have a secretary to the government in my state when she speaks, she speaks responsibly because she knows whatever comes out of her mouth will be taken as very important. “In the last few months we have had an SGF that has being speaking carelessly and has being meddling with the affairs of the other tiers of government and that is not right. “The SGF himself called the confab of such eminent Nigerians, a confab that was put together to see how we can take care of the problems of Nigeria and people came together to talk about Nigeria, to talk about our existence and talk about moving forward, he called it a job for the boys. “The next thing he will do was to say constituency projects that have being approved by this red chamber will not be properly implemented. Mr. President that is unbecoming and there is a need to call a spade a spade. “That is what we are saying today, the SGF has not represented the government well. The councilors and house of assembly members will be better than us if we go home without taking our constituency projects to them.

Thebachelor:
If only they were truly fighting for the poor folks in their so called constituencies.

How l wish one BH suicide bomber can take a stroll into the hallow chambers and join them in their plenary session. I'm sure she will get a state burial and forever be remmembered as a martyr.