The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has<\/p>\n
stated that less than 2 percent of Nigerians are corrupt, adding that this
\ngroup of people are highly placed people in the society.
\nDogara, who stated this while delivering the vote of thanks at the formal
\npresentation of the 2016 budget to the joint session of the National
\nAssembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in the House of Representatives
\nchamber, also declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption
\nmust succeed for the sake of the remaining 98 percent of Nigerians.<\/p>\n
The speaker said, “The college of Nigerians favourably disposed to
\ncorruption is a small one, terribly small: indeed if a census were
\nconducted, it would show that less than two percent of Nigerians have that
\ndisposition and that the real practitioners would number not more than one
\npercent. Make no mistake, though few in number, they are very loud because
\nthey have the means. In accordance with the dictates of democracy they may
\nhave their say but the majority must have it’s way. It will therefore
\namount to despicable failure of governance to succumb to the shenanigans
\nof this terrible minority by subjecting the fate of the 98 percent non
\ncorrupt Nigerians to their sinister designs.<\/p>\n
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr President, distinguished colleagues, this
\nis one war that must not only be won but must be won expeditiously and
\ndecisively if the change mantra is to deliver ultimately. It is a divine
\nsecond chance for Nigeria to pull herself out of the vicious circle of
\ndebilitating poverty, inequality, squalor, unemployment, graft and
\ninsecurity; indeed it is the season for the enthronement of good
\ngovernance.\u00fd”<\/p>\n
While stressing that the war against corruption is not a tea party, he
\nwarned that there have been orchestrations in certain sections of the
\nmedia subtly discouraging prosecution of the anti corruption war. He also
\nstated that they tend to focus on the methodology of the war and other
\nsectional, partisan or even primordial considerations, rather than the
\ndevastating impact of corruption on the society.<\/p>\n
While thanking the president for a well crafted budget, the Speaker
\ncharged him to ensure that there is implementation of the budget for it to
\nbe effective.<\/p>\n
He noted that while the National Assembly will endeavour to diligently
\nscrutinise and pass the budget in good time to facilitate early
\ncommencement of it’s implementation, it may be necessary to take a second
\nlook at the constitutional definition of Financial year.<\/p>\n
“Section 318 of the Constitution defines a \u2018Financial Year\u2019 to mean \u2018any
\nperiod of twelve months beginning on the first day of January in any year
\nor such other date as the National Assembly may prescribe\u2019,”.<\/p>\n
He stated that, “The National Assembly, going forward, may need therefore,
\nto prescribe another date as the financial year in line with provisions of
\nSection 318 of the Constitution, whenever the budget is not passed before
\nJanuary 1 in any given year. The letter and spirit of the Constitution
\nrequires that the Financial year shall not be less than 12 months. The
\ndate of commencement of the financial year may change but not the 12
\nmonths period, it seems.<\/p>\n
“Consequently, if this proposal is accepted, it may become imperative that
\nthe 2016 budget may commence 12 months from the date it is signed into Law
\nby Mr President. A budget may have a realistic chance of implementation
\nwhen the Executive has 12 uninterrupted months to execute it. Mr
\nPresident\u2019s Change Agenda can only be realised for the benefit of the
\nNigerian people when his policies and programmes are faithfully executed.
\nThis proposal would need to be effected in full consultation with the
\nExecutive branch.”<\/p>\n
Rt Hon Dogara also assured the president that the National Assembly’s
\noversight function will be diligent, thorough and intensive to check
\ncorruption and diversion of public resources as witnessed in what is
\n“known as Armsgate.”<\/p>\n
“This has proven that oversight must include following not just project
\nimplementation but also the security and sanctity of unspent budgeted
\nfunds. On our part and in the spirit of change that has come to this
\nLegislature, we promise Nigerians to hold Mr. President to every word,
\nline and provision of the budget when passed and assented to.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n