3rd April, 2018
PRESS RELEASE:
NASS SHOULD STOP DEMANDING BRIBE
FROM MDAS
The Nigerian Senate in
February 2018 complained that heads of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were delaying the passage of the 2018
budget. The red chamber accused ministers and heads of MDAs of ill-preparedness
and unwillingness to attend scheduled meetings, ignoring invitations and sometimes
failing to provide relevant information for screening. Senate therefore issued
a one week ultimatum to them to come forward and defend their budgets.
In response
to Senate’s allegation, some officials of MDAs recently told a leading Nigerian
online newspaper that Nigerian lawmakers were aggressively demanding for bribe
as a condition for passing their budgets. They claimed that heads of MDAs are
asked to wait behind after attending screening sessions to see the chairmen of
the relevant committees who pointedly ask them, “What are you giving us?”
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is astounded by this
disclosure. It is most embarrassing, highly scandalous and very preposterous.
This practice is irreconcilable with the prestigious status of the
representatives of the Nigerian people. It is a monumental tragedy and a huge
disappointment. Our representatives have let us down. Our hearts bleed.
We can understand the
desperation for funds on the part of lawmakers particularly at this period.
Those seeking re-election need money to fund their ambition. This informs the
current upsurge in pressures. They frustrate heads of MDAs who refuse to play
ball. They summon them endless times. They ask them irrelevant questions. They
request for documents that have no bearing on the budget. The attitude of
Nigerian lawmakers to the war against corruption may also have been partly
responsible for the recent negative report on corruption in Nigeria by some
international agencies.
Although the lawmakers
have denied this allegation, the fact that the Director General of the Budget
Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, affirmed that all the details needed by the lawmakers
had been provided is quite didactic. It means the lawmakers are merely looking
for ways to arm-twist heads of MDAs into compromising funds entrusted to them
for development.
Apart from the testimony of the DG Budget Office, the
allegation against the lawmakers can also be corroborated by precedence. Some
lawmakers did it before and got away with it. It is on record that Nigerian
senators demanded gratification to the tune of fifty four million naira (N54m)
from Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a condition for ratifying his ministerial
appointment in 2003. To pass the budget of the Ministry of
Education, they also demanded fifty five million naira. Senator Adighije later
admitted being part of the committee of senate on education that took bribe
from Fabian Osuji, former Minister of Education.
Surprisingly, however,
nobody was arrested. None was prosecuted. Nobody was jailed. This is why they
have the temerity to do it again. But they have miscalculated. A war against
corruption is ongoing and Nigerians know where the lawmakers stand. Nigerians
know the main cassu belli for the hostility between the executive and
the legislature. For while President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to stem the
high tide of corruption, Nigerian lawmakers are frustrating every move in that
direction.
Unfortunately the citizens on whose behalf Buhari is
fighting corruption are docile and lethargic. Some prefer to listen to the
deceitful propaganda of looters. Instead of rising against a corrupt
legislature, some sing divisive tunes of gymnastic jingoism and acrobatic
religiousity. Who did this to Nigeria? When will Nigerian lawmakers serve the
country with dedication and patriotism? When will they put behind their lust
for wealth and personal aggrandizement? Most importantly, when will Nigerians
vote out corrupt, unpatriotic and egocentric lawmakers?
MURIC calls on Nigerians
to wake up from their slumber. Those voted into the National Assembly (NASS) to
represent the people are only lining their pockets at the expense of the very people
who chose them. The tragedy lies in the likely outcome of such exchange of
bribe. Projects will simply remain unexecuted and no questions will be asked because
those who are supposed to ask questions on the people’s behalf have sold out.
We call on the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to protect heads of MDAs who
are currently under pressure from the NASS. The biggest role in this drama must
be played by Nigerian citizens. We must defend our commonwealth the way we
defend our votes. Nigerians should mobilize themselves to attend court
proceedings in corruption cases. A situation whereby thieves mobilize themselves
to give moral support to thieves like them in court should stop. Citizens
should occupy the courts to put thieves to shame with their presence.
MURIC charges the Nigerian press to highlight this ugly
trend. Only the press can stop the tyranny of the lawmakers and heads of MDAs
stand the risk of harsher victimization if the press keeps mute. Nigerians will
be the losers at the end of the day if those MDAs should surrender. But
posterity will be forced to ask, “Where was the Nigerian press when all this
was happening?”
We invite
non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) to mobilize against the bribe-seeking
lawmakers. We admit that not all lawmakers are corrupt. We therefore challenge
progressive lawmakers, genuine patriots and true democrats in the NASS to
boldly speak up and challenge their greedy colleagues. Only such lawmakers are
fit for re-election. Nigerians are watching.
Finally, we warn
Nigerian lawmakers not to provoke the masses. The wind has blown. We have seen
the ruff of the hen. Any further attempt to delay the passing of the 2018
budget using flimsy and selfish excuses will only jeopardize their re-election.
In addition, we warn
lawmakers to stop their scandalous solidarity appearance in court each time one
of them is arraigned for corruption. Failure to heed this warning will attract
the people’s reception in the same courts. Nigerians will no longer allow
thieves to shamelessly celebrate themselves in our courts. We urge Nigerians to
be ready to kick out corrupt lawmakers in the next general election.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC)
