$1bn B’Haram fund: Govs violated due process, says Gbajabiamila

Buy the lawmaker also said funds in excess crude acccount belong to the three tiers of government and therefore,  tthe National Assembly, therefore, has no legal authority to query state governments on how they chose to spend their own portion of the money.

He spoke even as controversies over the decision of governors from the 36 states of the Federation allow the Federal Government utilise $1billion from Nigeria’s excess crude account to tackle Boko Haram insurgency gains currency in public discourse.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, among others have criticized to use such huge amount to tackle Boko Haram insurgency, especially given the various claims of government that insurgent group has already been defeated.

Some critics have also called on the National Assembly to stop the Federal Government frow withdrawing from the excess crude account fund.

But Gbajabiamila explained in a statement issued on Sunday that the power of the National Assembly to appropriate funds relates only on to money belonging to the Federal Government.

“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,” Gbajabiamila said.