National Assembly Debunks Obasanjo’s Allegation On ineptitude, Outlines priorities

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,GCFR

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

The leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday reacted to the allegations made against it by a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo pointing accusing fingers on account of alleged laxity, corruption and impunity among some on its members.

The Senate President who statutorily doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki in response courteously stated that the present 8^th Senate’s priorities are benchmarked on service delivery and good governance adding assertively that the legislative arm of the federation is sensitive of the present economic crises in the nation.

Believably, Obasanjo’s public outcry came on account of budgetary allocations and other sensitive issues in which the National Assembly directly or seemingly showed little or no concerns to, particularly the ongoing fight against corruption and indiscriminate wastage of public fund being championed by the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration. 

It would be recalled that the National Assembly has been under severe criticisms over its budgetary allocation on Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) which alone would gulp the nation of several billions of Naira amidst economic crises despite the ‘cutting down’ of cost on governance initiative of the executive arm.  

However, the Senate President who remarkably registered his appreciation on Obasanjos’s statesmanship assured him that the Senate was aware of the present economic realities and explained that, it considerably trimmed its expenditures from what was obtainable in the past in view of that. Emphatically, he assured the former President that the Senate under his leadership would remain principled and ensure that the overall interests of the nation are its priority stating unequivocally that it would always lead by example.

 “Yesterday, I acknowledged receipt of a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he called the attention of the National Assembly to some issues. I will want to assure President Obasanjo that the leadership and membership of the 8th Senate are committed to good governance, transparency, accountability, due process and responsiveness to the economic reality of our nation. It is for this reason that the legislative chamber has introduced bold and progressive reforms in the management of the finances of the National Assembly. This is of even greater importance during a tough fiscal period for our country. Like I said, the Senate must lead by example in terms of our own funding, budgets and accountability; showing, beyond doubt, value for money. I have canvassed that we must lay bare the budget of the Senate, the National Assembly and its affiliated institutions. I equally canvassed the need to strengthen the capacity of the legislative institution to carry our effective oversight of the executive arm. That way, we can ensure the budget leads to the realisation of the policy objectives of the Buhari Administration. I appreciate President Obasanjo for his consistent role in always reminding those of us in government about our responsibilities to the general public and offering timely advice where necessary,’’ Senator Saraki said.