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Parliaments is at the hallmark of democracy all over the world, and Nigeria is not an exception. We also note that the Parliament is the pillar of democracy. It is a known fact that during the Military dictatorship in Nigeria, the Legislator has always been a victim of dictatorship. Where the Judiciary exist, the Military combine the parliamentary activities with the Executive power. While the Legislators makes law for the people, it is the responsibilities of the Judiciary to interpret those laws while the Executive carryout the implementation functions.
In Kogi State, a lot of activities is currently going in which the pronouncement and response of the Legislators is needed urgently. In the last one year or thereabout, a lot of monies have come in to the State, particularly Bailout and Paris Club Refund, the real amount that came to the State and was it was expended for is yet to be known by the general public. It is the duty of the Legislator to carryout oversight functions on the Executive base on their appropriation.
The 2017 Budget was signed into Law on the 22nd of February 2017, 6 months down the line, no genuine oversight function have been carried out by the legislators in Kogi State whose report is made public.
“The challenges of legislative oversight in the budgetary process in Nigeria are legion. First, is the need to ensure that budget formulations and implementation at the Federal, State and Local levels impact positively on the lives of citizens. This, undoubtedly can only happen if the Legislature which has absolute oversight is adequately equipped with the desired capacity to discharge its statutory functions.”
Undauntedly, Kogi is facing a lot of challenges on budget implementation under the current administration. Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as dictated by Fiscal Responsibility Act. It is the MTEF that should dictate the performance of the budget and to guide in budgetary preparation. It is a constitutional duty that must be adhered to.
It is a known fact that in the last two years of this current 6th Assembly in Kogi State, oversight functions have not been taken serious through various Committees of the Assembly.
There have not been conduct to the Local Government Councils Elections in the State in the last 14 months and yet no oversight function to these Local Governments in the State despite the appropriation made by this Assembly. It must be ascertain the amount of Statutory Allocation to the Local Government Councils from the Federation Account in the last 14 months and how must actually got to each of the Local Government Councils in the State. That must be established through the relevant Committee of the Assembly and the report be made public.
On the Bailout, the Public Account Committee of the State Assembly must establish the true amount that the Kogi State Government has received and what the monies has been expended on. We call on the Assembly to invite the Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner of Budget and the Auditor General of the State to explain the financial position of the State and the Budget implementation for 2017 Budget and demanded for the MTEF report as provided for in the fiscal responsibility act.
On the crisis of Workers, it is a known fact that the report of the Screening Committee that lasted for 14 months is still generating controversies as several workers and pensioners are yet to be paid.
On the continuous face-off between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Anyigba Branch and the State Government which have led to the closure of the only State University for the past 7 months and the subsequent illegal proscription of that famous Union. We call on the Assembly Education Committee or an Adhoc Committee be setup by the State Assembly to intervene in that faceoff.
We are worried and concern about the non-accountability associated with the Paris Club Refund where Kogi State Government has received Billions of Naira. We hope the invitation of the Commissioner of Finance will unveil the masquerading associated with the Paris Club Money.
In conclusion, the independent of the legislators and separation of power among the arms of government is a constitutional matter. We call on the Kogi State Assembly to jealously guide the separation of power through the genuine oversight function and always make it report known to the public that put them there in the first instance, in the interest of democracy, justice, fair play and transparency.
Signed:
Idris Miliki Abdul
Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution,
Lokoja, Kogi State.
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