Ita Enang, the senior special
assistant to the President on national assembly matters on Monday said that
Buhari has not approved the release of $1 billion from the excess crude
account.
He said the approval given to the
federal government by the national economic council was undergoing the “normal
legislative process” before the national assembly.
Recall that the Minister of
Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, had on Wednesday disclosed the release of $1 billion
for procurement of security equipment to fight insecurity in the country after
a three-hour meeting Buhari had with service chiefs and heads of other security
agencies.
Femi Adesina, presidential
spokesman, also said those criticising Buhari’s approval of $1 billion for
security fund “are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians”.
However, Enang has issued a
statement denying President Buhari’s approval of the fund. It read:
“In response to several issues
raised about Security Fund sourced for at source from Excess Crude account to
combat Security challenges in the country and the several misreadings attending
same, may l state as follows:
“That the said sum has not and
cannot be approved for spending by Mr. President.
“That in accordance with best
practices, Mr. President, having received approval of sum from National
Economic Council made up of all the Governors, now had a meeting with the
Minister of Defence, Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, among
others to collate the need of each of the Services and the money available for
appropriation
“That Mr. President and the
meeting having collated the need of each Service and the amount involved may
now present same to the Federal Executive Council for detailed Consideration,
or in exercise of Presidential powers may communicate same to the National
Assembly for appropriation.
“That this may be done as usual
upon Mr. President Consulting prior with the Leadership of the National
Assembly through the whole body of principal officers or the presiding officers
of each chambers only, before originating the communication to the National
Assembly
“That as at now, the process of
approving the money for use is inchoate and still undergoing Executive standard
operating procedure before laying same before the National Assembly for
appropriation.
“That the processes now being
worked on is to fast-track this procedures so that it may be forwarded to the
National Assembly while it is still considering the 2018 Appropriation Bill
(Budget) for incorporation as Mr. President’s supplementary request under the
2018 Budget, or if completed, after the 2018 Budget, it may be forwarded as
supplementary Appropriation Bill
“That succinctly stated, Mr.
President has not approved the sum for any release of this procurement or
application howsoever
“In any case, before any Sum is
released from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, there must be
A. Appropriation Act
B. Vote of Charge
C. Warrant which is legally
predicated on appropriation authorization Sub-head under the Act
“That the Executive is conscious
of the provisions of the Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution which
states:
“No moneys shall be withdrawn
from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue
Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those moneys has been authorized by
an Act of the National Assembly.
“No moneys shall be withdrawn
from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation,
except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.
“We are also conscious of the
provision of Sections 4 and 5 of the 2017 Appropriation Act (relating to Excess
crude Account) and would not take any action in breach thereof.
“Just as the Legislature in
processing legislation starts with conceptualizing, drafting, scrutiny of the
draft, gazzetting, First reading, 2nd reading, committal to appropriate
committee, public hearing, consideration of the Report by Committee of the
whole or supply, passage and 3rd reading in plenary, so also does the Executive
have and maintain standard operating procedure, or due process or due diligence
in all actions. And at this stage, the matter is ongoing these processes.
“Therefore, the matter of the
Security fund is still undergoing standard processes for laying before the
National Assembly for appropriation.
“In summary, ladies and
gentlemen, the said Sum can only be spent upon, and in the manner as shall be
approved by the National Assembly, and Assented to in Appropriation Act or
supplementary Appropriation Act.”
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