At the end of the day, the lawmakers sent the minister away with 50-question homework.
Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the coordinating minister for the economy for the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, had appeared before the House Committee on Finance to address members on the state of the nation’s economy.
But, the session, which was chaired by Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin, turned stormy shortly after the minister complained that she was indisposed to speak.
About three hours earlier, Okonko-Iweala had laid the estimates of the 2014 budget before the whole House where she looked excited, smiling and waving at lawmakers in acknowledgement of their cheers.
In response to the minister’s complaint of not feeling well to speak, the committee offered to grant her two weeks of rest and to reappear to speak to members at the end of the rest period.
She said the tone of the committee chairman was disrespectful to a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
She observed that she had noticed a trend in Jibrin’s conduct, which she said was to harass her and members of her team. The minister consequently changed her mind and said she was ready to entertain questions from the members.
But Jibrin objected, saying, “We will not take you in present state that you say you are not feeling fine. That is why it is the view of the committee that we give you time to come back.
“We are concerned about your health.”
He argued that it was better to hear from the minister when she was fully fit than allow her to address issues relating to the economy “half-heartedly.”
This further infuriated Okonjo-Iweala, who replied that she was not a “slacker.”
The committee insisted on the earlier ruling and dismissed her.
But, in doing so, Jibrin handed her a document containing 50 questions, which he said the minister must answer at her next appointment with the committee.
One of the questions sought to know how an economy that spent 80 per cent of its annual budget on recurrent spending could claim to be “one of the fastest growing economies?”
Another question required her to list the “major economic achievements of this government in 2013.”
She was also asked why Nigeria’s economy could not grow beyond “single digit GDP.”
On debts, the committee asked, “Why should our internal debts continue to represent more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s external debt profile, when the cost of servicing domestic debts is ridiculously far more expensive that servicing external debts?” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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ReplyDeleteOkonjo-Iweala started the brouhaha. If you are sick, then go and come back as the Reps advised. But turning around almost immediately to say the sickness has disappeared smacks of unseriousness and holding the reps in disdain. She should go and prepare for the next visit!
ReplyDeleteThis is Jam's question on economy to our prof Madam.
ReplyDeletehow the house was the senate and the senate was the house....
ReplyDeleteNgozi is on hot sit.
ReplyDeleteWhen the selected tells elected representatives that they are rude, hmm. Closeness to the presidency seems to breed arrogance. The Ngozi of OBJ seems different from the Ngozi of GEJ
ReplyDeleteI am not holding brief for the Hon. Minister of finance; but I still feel that the Chairman was too harsh and rough on her
ReplyDeleteA committee of the federal house of representatives is superior to any appointed minister. Each member of the committee represents on the average, approximately 200,000 Nigerians, while anybody can be appointed a minister at the discretion of the President. The finance minister should learn not to be full of herself! She must come back and answer all the questions to the satisfaction of the committee and Nigerians. Slacker indeed.
ReplyDeleteDemocracy in action. This are things that should be happening. Sit on their necks and hold them accountable. Kudos to chairman house c'tee on Finance.
ReplyDeleteNice one.i watched it on d news yesterday.its high time all dis thieves start facing d law.enough of all dis unecessary wastage of revenues wen people re hungry and suffering.i ll also like d reps to include why dey find it difficult to pay retired soldiers thier full entitlement.my father served dis country for years,yet u wont pay him.now boko haram is evrywhere yet d same soldiers re asked to save d country,after which they wont b paid wen dey retire.enough is enough
ReplyDeleteThe Reps are working cos their leader is an honest and committed individual while the Senators are headed by an absolute pretender who's scared of the President.
ReplyDeleteI think we are beginning to wake up, let her come back when she is fit since she claimed sickness earlier. The c,tte chairman has done well.
ReplyDeleteHouse of Reps r workin, Principle of checks & bal activated. SENATE must wake up as apendage of GEJ
DeleteDr Ngozi is like u dnt knw dat elected officers re superior 2 u,as prescribe by our constitutn than appointed minister as u re?
DeleteNgozi dis show dat ur int'l goodwill & perception has decline & Nigerians re tired of economic growth on paper alone. Lie,Lie minister
DeleteNgozi u tink dis is SENATE where its biz as usual? Full over sight & its scrutiny has began.always growing our economy on paper
DeleteNgozi y re u playin pranks by pretendin dat u re sick & later clains u re better? World Bank mumu
DeleteDAVID Mark & ur rubber stamp senate, sit up bcos Nigerians are wiser
DeleteMumu minister repenin frm past glory of WORLD BANK,every year our economy is growin on paper, while poverty, unemployment,illetracy & street beggin is risin? Wht r ur indices ? FOOL
DeleteDAVID Mark & ur rubber stamp senate, sit up bcos Nigerians are wiser
DeleteNgozi y re u playin pranks by pretendin dat u re sick & later clains u re better? World Bank mumu
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