Governors did not follow due process before donating $1bn to fight Boko Haram - Gbajabiamila

Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the National Assembly cannot interfere in how money from the excess crude oil account is spent by governors.

- Honourable Gbajabiamila said due said the National Assembly cannot control of excess crude oil account fund is spent

- He said governors should have consulted with state assemblies

- He said this is what separation of power indicates

Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the National Assembly cannot interfere in how money from the excess crude oil account is spent as the money does not belong to the federal government.

There has been criticism over the approval for the release of $1 billion to fight Boko Haram insurgency but Channels TV reports that the member of the House of Representatives said they could not interfere.

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He however said due process should have been followed and that governors should have consulted state assemblies.

He said: “There is a clear misunderstanding of the powers of the National Assembly over public funds and its limitations. The National Assembly only has the power of appropriation over monies belonging to the federal government.

“The ECA does not belong to the Federal Government but to the three tiers of government. The National Assembly cannot query how the states decide to spend their money. The only institution that can query this is the state assembly.

“Where the Governors have decided to “donate” some of their funds from the ECA to fight Boko Haram, their state assemblies can kick against it that such was not appropriated by them. I do agree that due process wasn’t followed by The Governors as they should have sought approval of their states before the donation.

“It is however not for the NASS to complain on behalf of the State Assemblies. This is part of the principle of separation of powers in a constitutional democracy. The National Assembly can only discuss the portion of the federal government money spent if any.”

- Governor Wike said he would not condemn release of $1 billion to fight Boko Haram

- He however said the same should be released to tackle Niger Delta security issues

- He said the environmental problems in the Niger Delta region are as serious as the Boko Haram insurgency

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has called on the federal government to tackle the problem of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.

Vanguard reports that the governor spoke during the annual general meeting of Okpo Club of Nigeria (Association of Ikwerre Lawyers) in Port Harcourt.

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Wike said he would not join the list of those condemning the federal government’s decision to release $1 billion to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency but said the national pool should also provide for the tackling of the security issues in the Niger Delta.

He said: “Niger Delta environmental problems are as serious as the Boko Haram insurgency.

” I am not saying that you should not fight Boko Haram.

“If you can get funds from the National Pool to tackle Boko Haram, then you should go to the pool to get funds to fight environmental problems in Ogoni and other Niger Delta communities.”

The Rivers governor called on the ethnic groups in the state to be united as they would record huge success by working together as one.

Meanwhile, the accountant general of the federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, maintained the instruction by the 36 states governors for withdrawal of $1 billion from the excess crude revenue account for the fight against Boko Haram still stands despite opposition form Governor Fayose of Ekiti state.

The AGF made the statement on Saturday, December 16, at the special Federal Accounts Allocation Committee meeting for December where members resolved to share a total of N609.96 billion for the month, Leadership reports.

Idris stated that the gross statutory revenue stood at N549.5 billion.

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Source: Naija.ng