The Federal House of Representative has reacted to an allegation made by by the former chairman of the appropriation committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin against its principal members.
The spokesman of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, in a statement released through its social media page on Twitter faulted Jibrin’s timing adding that the reason he opened up waa because he was relieved of his duties.
Read statement below:
1. PRESS BRIEF: Our attention has been drawn to media statements made by the former Chairman of House Appropriations Committee
2. wherein he made wild allegations against the House of Representatives and its leaders…
3. We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House to appoint and remove…
4. Committee Chairmen. That power has been exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumuni Jibrin as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee…
5. Most of the allegations on the 2016 budget process and his opposition to immunity of Presiding Officers are non-issues and mere…
6. afterthoughts manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.
7. If he had all these ‘facts’ before, why didn’t he make them public? Why is he doing that now?
8. Hon. Abdulmumuni Jibrin, like any other member of the House knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets…
9. and projects for principal officers of the National Assembly. Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his…
10. opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and the Rules of the House…
11. We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of his support or otherwise on immunity bill. Afterall…
12. he is not the only one who opposed the bill. The bill is still pending before Committee on review of the Constitution and it has to…
13. be voted upon by each member of the House, get Senate concurrence, endorsed by two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly…
14. and be assented to by the President. It is cheap blackmail on the part of Hon. Jibrin to even insinuate that he was removed because…
15. he opposed immunity bill. He should not distract the House from giving legislative support on important issues…
16. facing the government concerning the revival of the economy, insecurity, in the country, pursuit of anti-corruption…
17. measures, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development etc. The Nigerian people are simply not ready to waste…
18. their time on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were elected.
19. Signed. Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.