The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) Thursday expressed concern over what it described as undemocratic action and questionable decision by the leadership of the Senate as shockingly demonstrated in the recent unfounded suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.
The center said it recognises and affirms that freedom of expression and opinion remains sacrosanct to preserve democratic culture, values and principles in Nigeria.
“We, without hesitation, uphold our position that freedom of opinion and expression is a constitutional and legally-backed right under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria; Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; Article 19 (2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966; hence, the sanity and sanctity of these provisions must be strictly adhered, demonstrated and protected by a civic institution such as the National Assembly.
“Anything outside these provisions is tantamount to deliberate violation of human rights and apparent disregard to the rule of law,” it stated.
CISLAC also said, it is not unaware that the suspension was initiated against Senator Ningi for expressing his constitutionally guaranteed concerns and observations on 2024 budget at this critical moment when the nation is deeply soaked in socio-economic and financial crisis.
“The suspension is not unconnected with the public exposure of the N3 trillion padded into the 2024 budget by the upper chamber, which has hitherto failed to display transparency and public accountability in its annual budgetary allocation and spending. This includes the inequality and disproportionate marginalisation surrounding the distribution of the N3 trillion, where each Senator is expected to receive N500 million as Constituency Allowance,” it said.
