The plenary
of the House of Representatives on Thursday was rowdy on Thursday as members
disagreed over the propriety of the one billion dollars sought by Presiden
t
Muhammadu Buhari to fight the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency.
The
confusion followed a motion by Rep. Ken Chikere (Rivers-PDP) on the “Need to
deduct 13 per cent Derivation from the one billion dollars approved by the
National Economic Council (NEC) to fight Boko Haram Insurgency”.
Moving the
motion, Mr. Chikere said that if 13 per cent derivation was not deducted from
the one billion dollars and paid to oil-producing states, it would amount to
double contribution by the states.
He added
that it would also be a breach of section 16 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and
Section 1 of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc) Act, Cap.A15,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.
“At the 83rd
meeting of NEC held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Dec. 14, 2017, the 36
states governors approved the deduction of one billion dollars by Federal
Government from Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram.
“The proviso
to Section 162 of 1999 Constitution states that 13 per cent of proceeds of
oil-producing states as derivation funds payable to benefiting states of
Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ondo, Anambra
and Lagos.
“That 13 per
cent derivation fund payable to oil-producing states had not been deducted and
paid to them from the one billion dollars before or after the approval of the
said sum to fight Boko Haram insurgency.
“Concerned
that if the 13 per cent derivation fund is not deducted from the one billion
dollars and paid to oil-producing states, it would amount to double
contribution from the said states.
“It will
also a breach of section 16 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 1 of the
Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc) Act, Cap.A15, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2014,” Mr. Chikere said.
He urged the
Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure that amount, representing 13 per cent of
one billion dollars, approved by NEC to fight Boko Haram was deducted and paid
to oil-producing states.
He said the
payment would be in compliance with Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
The lawmaker
urged his colleagues to mandate the Committees of Finance and Legislative
Compliance to ensure compliance.
He added
that “the amount involved is arguably a large sum of money but no sum of money
is too large for security. I urge us to show resolve by supporting this
motion’’.
But, Rep.
Shehu Garba (Kaduna-APC) opposed the motion, saying the fight against Boko Haram
insurgency should be seen as a national challenge than a sectional issue.
He said
debating the issue would open up “a Pandora box” that may apparently heat up
the polity.
He said, “We
do understand the reason behind this motion. However, I do have a different
perspective. The basic question is whether Boko Haram is a regional challenge
or national challenge.
“We must
accept that just as you as a person will not have a good night sleep when you
have pain.
“You must
accept that any challenge in any part of Nigeria is a challenge for everyone.
Boko Haram challenge is a national challenge.
“The
challenge requires the collective will of all Nigerians. On this note, I
disagree with this motion. It will be opening a Pandora box.”
Recognised
by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, a member, Rep. Henry Archibong (Akwa Ibom-PDP)
raised a Point-of-Order.
He sought to
know whether the money had been approved by the National Assembly
The lawmaker
said “point-of-order, no money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue
funds.
“This money
that’s being given to fight Boko Haram, has it been approved by the national
assembly?”
Similarly,
Rep. Aliyu Patigi (Kwara-APC) said the issue at stake was of mathematical
nature.
“It is an
accounting issue. It is an issue that relates to the Federation Account.
“Now, the
president has requested for one billion dollars and we can’t give the president
less than that one billion. It should be one billion. What we need to do is to
get Federal Accounts committee.”
In his
contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, said it was necessary to
understand the difference between the Federation and Consolidated Accounts
before deliberating on the matter.
“I think
this motion is very important because of so many parts of the country it is
touching.
“Whatever
touches Boko Haram, let’s deal with it because we have suffered negatively from
Boko Haram. It is a pure constitutional matter.”
In his
remarks, the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, reminded the House that the entirety of
the money coming from the ECA had been approved by the State Houses of
Assembly, allowing their respective governors to give consent to the request.
He wondered
whether the National Assembly had any significant input in the matter.
He ruled
that the motion be stepped down until the state of the Excess Crude Account was
ascertained.
Mr. Dogara
committed the responsibility to the House Committee on Finance, and gave it
four weeks to conclude the assignment.
(NAN)
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