The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has
stated that less than 2 percent of Nigerians are corrupt, adding that this
group of people are highly placed people in the society.
Dogara, who stated this while delivering the vote of thanks at the formal
presentation of the 2016 budget to the joint session of the National
Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in the House of Representatives
chamber, also declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption
must succeed for the sake of the remaining 98 percent of Nigerians.
The speaker said, “The college of Nigerians favourably disposed to
corruption is a small one, terribly small: indeed if a census were
conducted, it would show that less than two percent of Nigerians have that
disposition and that the real practitioners would number not more than one
percent. Make no mistake, though few in number, they are very loud because
they have the means. In accordance with the dictates of democracy they may
have their say but the majority must have it’s way. It will therefore
amount to despicable failure of governance to succumb to the shenanigans
of this terrible minority by subjecting the fate of the 98 percent non
corrupt Nigerians to their sinister designs.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr President, distinguished colleagues, this
is one war that must not only be won but must be won expeditiously and
decisively if the change mantra is to deliver ultimately. It is a divine
second chance for Nigeria to pull herself out of the vicious circle of
debilitating poverty, inequality, squalor, unemployment, graft and
insecurity; indeed it is the season for the enthronement of good
governance.ý”
While stressing that the war against corruption is not a tea party, he
warned that there have been orchestrations in certain sections of the
media subtly discouraging prosecution of the anti corruption war. He also
stated that they tend to focus on the methodology of the war and other
sectional, partisan or even primordial considerations, rather than the
devastating impact of corruption on the society.
While thanking the president for a well crafted budget, the Speaker
charged him to ensure that there is implementation of the budget for it to
be effective.
He noted that while the National Assembly will endeavour to diligently
scrutinise and pass the budget in good time to facilitate early
commencement of it’s implementation, it may be necessary to take a second
look at the constitutional definition of Financial year.
“Section 318 of the Constitution defines a ‘Financial Year’ to mean ‘any
period of twelve months beginning on the first day of January in any year
or such other date as the National Assembly may prescribe’,”.
He stated that, “The National Assembly, going forward, may need therefore,
to prescribe another date as the financial year in line with provisions of
Section 318 of the Constitution, whenever the budget is not passed before
January 1 in any given year. The letter and spirit of the Constitution
requires that the Financial year shall not be less than 12 months. The
date of commencement of the financial year may change but not the 12
months period, it seems.
“Consequently, if this proposal is accepted, it may become imperative that
the 2016 budget may commence 12 months from the date it is signed into Law
by Mr President. A budget may have a realistic chance of implementation
when the Executive has 12 uninterrupted months to execute it. Mr
President’s Change Agenda can only be realised for the benefit of the
Nigerian people when his policies and programmes are faithfully executed.
This proposal would need to be effected in full consultation with the
Executive branch.”
Rt Hon Dogara also assured the president that the National Assembly’s
oversight function will be diligent, thorough and intensive to check
corruption and diversion of public resources as witnessed in what is
“known as Armsgate.”
“This has proven that oversight must include following not just project
implementation but also the security and sanctity of unspent budgeted
funds. On our part and in the spirit of change that has come to this
Legislature, we promise Nigerians to hold Mr. President to every word,
line and provision of the budget when passed and assented to.”