Babachir must appear – Lawmakers
By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
The rift between the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, deepened yesterday following the SGF’s failure to appear before the Federal Character Committee and Inter-Governmental Affairs, to defend the 2017 Budget proposal of his office.
Irked by his absence, our correspondent gathered that members of the committee, led by Senator Tijjani Kaura (APC Zamfara North), walked out the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office of the SGF, Mohammed Bukar, who was delegated to represent the SGF at the budget defence session.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the SGF, through his Permanent Secretary, informed the committee of his absence through a telephone conversation minutes to the commencement of the meeting, scheduled to hold at 10.am yesterday morning.
At the last minute, the SGF was said to have told the PS that he was away from Abuja attending the funeral of the Sports Minister’s first wife, Naomi Dalung, who died recently.
Some of the lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity with our correspondent, however frowned at the SGF’s refusal to notify the committee in a written communication ahead of time on his planned absence.
The lawmakers, after turning down Lawal’s representative, insisted the SGF communicates a new date when he would be disposed to appear before the committee.
It was further gathered that the committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, thereafter briefed the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the circumstances and events which led to its decision to postpone the budget defense meeting scheduled to hold yesterday.
A reliable source disclosed that members of the committee, while briefing the Senate President on the course of action to be charted, said their insistence on Lawal was intended at ensuring the SGF complies with laid down tradition of the upper chamber.
It was also gathered that the committee’s action was taken to prevent the upper chamber from going on collision course with the Presidency over budgetary discrepancies that could arise during the parley, and which would need the SGF’s clarification.
One of the lawmakers on the committee who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity, said, “Much as we try to protect him as a brother, there are limits to what he should do. What he ought to do is seek the understanding of the committee to reschedule which is a normal thing.”
“As far as the committee is concerned, courtesy demands him to call the chairman. He does not appear, he does not show concern. Since he’s not here and not ready, he should make contact with the committee to reschedule.
“Why he’s not here is not cogent. He said he went to condole on the loss of a loved one, but here we have a colleague, a Senator for that matter, who is also supposed to attend the funeral of a loved one staying back to attend the budget defense. As far as we are concerned, the excuse he gave of going to bury a loved one is not a good one at all,” another lawmaker added.
But a source at the SGF’s office disclosed to our correspondent yesterday that a letter addressed to the Senate committee, was delivered to its Chairman, Senator Tijjani Kaura Thursday evening.
In the letter, the SGF requested to appear before the committee on Monday to defend the office’s budget.
The source said: “As at today (yesterday) evening, we wrote the committee stating the intention of the SGF to appear Monday to defend the budget.”
The relationship between the Senate and SGF became frosty following recent calls by the upper chamber on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack him over what it described as gross abuse of office.
The apex legislative body also called for Lawal’s prosecution for allegedly violating the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to the award of contracts.
