The House of Representatives has explained that President Muhammadu Buhari snubbed summons of the immediate past National Assembly, because the leadership were at war with him.
This is coming at the heels of its Tuesday’s resolution, inviting the President to appear before it to explain certain things on the security situation of the country, which was fallout of a motion on the recent killing of scores of rice farmers in Borno State.
Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who dropped the hint, said the past assembly held Buhari’s budget for six months, “because they were at war with him. Do you know what it means to hold someone’s budget for six months, and you are inviting the same man to come for consultation?”
He also argued that part of the House’s resolution on a motion, which was to summon President Muhammadu Buhari is not more important than the call for the declaration of state of emergency on security, adding that it is expected that the President will honour the fresh invitation, but that whether the appearance may be open, or behind closed doors will ultimately be determined by leadership of the House.
While giving assurance that in spite of the determined commitment of the House to meeting its timeline for passage of the 2021 budget, expected quality of the outcome would not be compromised.
There have been widespread concerns that in the desperate move to meet the promise to Nigerians that the return to the January-December budget circle will be sustained, the National Assembly appeared to be sacrificing quality on the alter of speed.
However, Kalu debunked the assertion, saying that even as the House strives to pass the budget before proceeding on the Yuletide break, committees have taken time to scrutinize respective MDAs under their oversight jurisdictions, and therefore quality of work is not compromised.
“The House is not hurrying to pass the budget, though we have a timeline set for ourselves. I can assure you that over 90 percent of the committee’s have submitted their reports to the sub-committee of appropriations”, he said, pointing out that the main committee on appropriations will sit and harmonise the reports for onward transmission for the House’s consideration.
