Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to appear before it
within one week over the 2019 budget, which has
not been presented up till.
The delay has caused disagreement between the
two arms of government.
It will be recalled that Ambode had sent the 2019
budget to the House in December against the
tradition of laying the budget before the House as
governor.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa told the lawmakers at
plenary on Monday it was important to give the
governor a fair hearing over the issue of the 2019
Budget.
Obasa stated there have been violations of the
constitution and infractions on the part of the
governor.
“The Attorney General, Finance Commissioner and
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning
that ought to have advised the governor did not
do so.
“The most important thing is that we should let
the people know that a budget that was yet to be
approved was being spent, which was why we
could not attend to the governor on the budget on
Monday 21, January.
“We must give them a fair hearing to come and
explain what happened. The point has been made
that there must be something before the House
before you can commence expenditure.
“We want to call on the governor to come within
a week to explain himself along with the other
officials.
“We can start gathering signatures for
impeachment. We can exercise patience and wait
till another time,†he said.
The lawmakers had reacted to a report presented
by the Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni
as the Chairman of the Committee set up to look
into the issues surrounding the 2019 budget
during a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers.
Members of the Committee included Chairman
House Committee on Public Accounts (State)
Hon. Moshood Oshun; Chairman, House
Committee on Budget and Economic Planning,
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu; Chairman, House
Committee on the Environment Hon. Dayo Saka-
Fafunmi and the Chairman, House Committee on
Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Abiodun Tobun.
Eshinlokun revealed that the committee met with
relevant commissioners and heads of agencies.
The Deputy Speaker stated the committee met
with the Commissioner For Budget and Economic
Planning, Hon. Segun Banjo, who said that no
money had been spent for the year.
He said that the Accountant General told the
committee that warrant had been issued that they
could spend up to 25 percent of the preceding
budget before the approval of that of the new
year.
He said they would have to make recourse to the
House if they wanted to spend up to N200
million.
“We pointed out that the governor ought to lay
the budget of the New Year before December
31st, but that so far the budget was yet to be
laid.
“We asked them to bring out the law that allows
them to spend up to 25% of the budget of the
preceding year. They could not bring out such law
and we said what they did was wrong.
“We discovered that people have started receiving
alerts and this has a grave implication for the
executive.
“It is our finding that for smooth running of
government, there must be a strict adherent to
the constitution and it must not be violated. “We
decided to bring the report before the lawmakers
for us to take action,†he said.
In his comment, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu revealed
that the Committee on Budget discovered during
budget appropriation review that there were some
specific expenditure in the budgets that ought to
have been approved by the House over which
funds were expended.
Yishawu stated that these were misnomers, and
that they noticed variation in the expenditure and
budget approved.
“We had issues of virement and monies being
spent without approval. We had cases of items
that were not budgeted for being carried out, it
shows the executive rewrite the budget at will.
“The Constitution states that the State House of
Assembly must approve all expenditures,†he
added.
According to him, things are shutting down,
things are being slowed down by the government.
He said that it was as if the executive was tired
and that the people were complaining.
“It is as if nothing is happening in the state now.
Breach of the constitution and gross misconduct
are being committed here, and the punishment is
clear.
“We should begin an impeachment process if need
be if the executive does not retrace their steps,â€
he said.
This was corroborated by Hon. Tunde Braimoh,
who said that the manner of revelation was of
serious concern.
He stated that they all swore to uphold the tenets
of the constitution of Nigeria.
He added that Sections 120 and 121 explained
the roles of each arm of government when it
comes to financial expenditure.
“If we continue like this, it means we are moving
on the ebb of destruction. The issue of gross
misconduct should be closely looked into and
necessary sanctions applied,†he said.
This was supported by Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who
pointed out that the governor is an accountant
and he was an Acting Auditor General in 2001 and
was confirmed in 2005.
“With his level of exposure, he cannot claim
ignorance. He is being surrounded by intellectuals,
so they ought to have advised him including the
Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for
Budget and Economic Planning.
“The Attorney General ought to have been
removed for quoting a law that does not exist.
“All those, who are giving the governor bad advice
should be removed.
“In the whole of Lagos, things have shut down.
This is an offence that is not pardonable.
“I want to say this is an impeachable offence for
the governor and the commissioners,†he said.
Former chairman, committee on budget of the
House, Hon. Rotimi Olowo said: “Rewriting of the
Budget is an impeachable offence. The
Government has been shut down and our roads
are in a sorry state.
“There must be continuity of projects in the
budget and this is not followed.
“Borrowing without informing the house is
impeachable. IPP is being owed. If the Governor is
tired, he should resign.
Moshood Oshun said: “When you apply for a job,
and you are given, if you are tired, you can leave.
If the Governor is tired, he should go.
“The budget is a law, when we pass a budget,
they rewrite their own. What they say is that they
are above the law.
“If you go to Alausa today, all the MDAs are shut
down. All their files are with the Governor and he
did not work on them.
Hon. Richard Kasunmu said: “This is a non-
compliance with the rule of law. The state is
about to be totally shut down, so we should
checkmate the situation.
“If the governor is tired, he should throw in the
towel. We cannot keep on standstill because
some people are tired.
Hon. Rasheed Makinde said: “Three years down
the lane, the executive cannot tell the people of
Lagos that they don’t know what they are doing.
“It is obvious that the Governor is tired, so they
should all go. They even made a mistake in the
letter they wrote to the House.
“Lagos State used to present its budget before
others even before the Federal Government.
“They ought to work based on the budget or they
come for reordering. All government agencies
have been rendered useless and civil servants are
sleeping in their offices.
“The State House of Assembly must approve the
budget. We must pass a vote of no confidence on
the Attorney General, Commissioners for Budget,
Finance, the Governor and the Deputy Governor.
Hon. Yinka Ogundimu reacted: “The Governor has
always been disobeying our motions. They
refused to follow our motions on the environment,
which is why everywhere is dirty.
“If you look at the various projects not provided
for in the budget that are being done, then it is
breach of the constitution.
“The people concerned should resign before we
invoke the aspect of the constitution that gives us
power to remove them from office. We should
make it clear that there have been warnings from
us.
Hon. Sola Giwa said: “This is a matter of
constitutionality and it is about the law. We all
swore to uphold the law.
“If you breach the law, there is a consequence
and the best is for the House to begin an
impeachment process.
Hon. Victor Akande said: “There is no need for
virement according to the constitution. I don’t
think there is any budget before the House.
“The constitution states that the budget must be
laid and it is a gross misconduct. So, we should
do the needful.
Hon. Fatai Mojeed said: “We received the money
from Paris Fund and other funds, the executive
did not take permission before they spent the
money.
Hon. Jude Idimogu said: “The government is not
moving forward. Our party is the APC and we are
doing well.
“The government is not putting us in the light and
we have the opposition that is watching us.
“No budget has been laid before the House. The
key members such as Attorney General,
Commissioners For Finance and Commissioner for
Budget and Economic Planning. The needful is
impeachment.
Others who spoke are: Hon. Noheem Raheem: “I
support the fact that they should resign if they
are tired.
Hon. Fatai Oluwa: “This is a deliberate attempt
by the Governor not to bring the budget before
the House.
“He is surrounded by erudite lawyers that ought
to have advised him. Public Works, LAWMA, IPP
are more working. If it would be necessary to
sign and send him out of office it would be okay.
Hon Oladele Adekanye said: “It is clear that there
are infractions and impeachable offence
committed. The defences of the commissioners
are not tenable.
Hon. Sabur Olayiwola said: “There have been
abuses of the constitution and disobedient to the
constitution. Spending without making recourse
to the assembly is an impeachable offence.
“The best thing is to show him that we are
representing our people and that we are not here
for fun.
“The best thing is to let them know that we mean
business. The Permanent Secretary/Accountant
General that is talking about 25 percent spending
should be brought to book.
Hon. Akeem Shokunle, “The financial misconduct
of the Governor is obvious and we should begin
an impeachment process.
Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara, “The situation is an
unfortunate one. Section 121 of the Constitution
states the the appropriation bill should be laid
before the House and this has not been done.
“It is an abuse of office and an undue influence
by the Governor. We can start an impeachment
process and pass a vote of no confidence on
some of the members of the executive.
To Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho: “We are the voice of
the people of Lagos State and we perform
oversight functions to ensure that the Government
do the best for the people.
“Accountability is not being done here. Section
121 made it clear that the appropriation bill
should be laid before the house.
“Section 122 states that if that has been done,
you can now spend 25percent of the budget
estimate for a period of six months.
“We need to forward the infractions to the
Governor. The tax payers should know what their
money is being spent on.
Hon. Setonji David said: “The infractions are too
grave, there is a problem and we need to do what
is right. The government must be held
responsible for their actions.
Hon. Akeem Bello, “The Governor and his Deputy
should tender their resignation letter.
Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, “I am sad over the
revelations by what the Deputy Speaker reads and
during out interactions with the executive.
“The business of governance is not based on
sentiments, it ia based on law. Section 120 of the
Constitution that talks about the public fund is
very important.
“All the violations amount to gross misconduct.
Section 188 subsection defines gross misconduct.
We strongly believe that essential services that
ought to be met are missing in the state.
“I am in line with the statement and decisions of
the members that if the executive members are
not ready for governance, they should resign or
should be impeached.
Hon. Mojisola Miranda said: “The constitution is
clear that there is punishment for any offence.
Hon. Dayo Famakinwa stated: “I want to support
my colleagues that the offences are impeachable
and we should activate the process immediately.
Hon. Saka Solaja said: “A budget is financial
instrument that analyses and interprets the
financial expenditure. Since 1999, Lagos State has
always been presenting its budget as at when
due, but that has not been done.
“The financial regulations and the constitution
have been breached. We should start a process of
impeachment immediately.
Hon. Folajinmi Mohammed said: “There is a
vagrant abuse of the constitution, which is an
impeachable offence.
To Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi: “It is an issue of
flagrant disobedient to the constitution. A review
of a previous year’s budget is a precursor to the
approval of the new budget.
“A review of the 2018 budget shows poor
performance. MDAs complained of inability to
access their funds.
“All these infractions should be communicated to
the Governor for his reaction and if he fails to do
so, the House can begin a process of
impeachment.
Hon. Omotayo Oduntan Deputy Whip said: “Today
is a sad day. The executive just moved money
from one ministry to another without recourse to
the Assembly.
“When all these happen, it shows a total disregard
to the budget being passed by the House. We
should get across to the Governor to explain
himself or else we should begin an impeachment
process.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, (Majority Leader): “It is
clear that the budget has not been presented
before the House. My colleagues have addressed
all the issues. We should let the public know that
we do not have the budget before the House.
“Three suggestions we made, that the
Commissioners, who were approved by the House
and are working with the Governor should have
vote of no confidence passed on them. They have
failed in their responsibilities.
“The next is for the Governor to resign or we
should begin an impeachment process against the
Governor.
“We can communicate to him to reign or failure to
do that is for us to start collecting signatures of
lawmakers so that we can be seeing to have done
our job.
Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Chief Whip): “I want to adopt
what has been done without wasting much time.
There have been some infractions on the part of
the Governor and the position of the law is clear.
Hon. Wahab Jimoh (Deputy Majority Leader)
said: “I saw this coming like an ocean surge. The
Attorney General wrote the House to withdraw the
private member bills before the House.
“I had been noticing that there would be crisis.
The report I saw with the Deputy Speaker shows
that the 2019 is being implemented.
source: thenationonlineng.net/lagos-assembly-summons-ambode-2019-budget/
