Ousted Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin ( APC, Kano ) has said transparency in the nation’s budgeting process is the only means to avoid manipulations and padding of the document.
Jibrin, in a statement yesterday said e – parliament, one of the key points on the Legislative Agenda of Speaker Yakubu Dogara is the an effective way of making the budget process responsive.
Among other factors he listed, Jibrin said e – parliament would allow Nigerian to follow the due process.
The statement reads: “The most important reform here is to ensure that budget estimates and details are returned to the floor of the House at the same time for passage.
“This will check the fraudulent insertions by some standing Committee Chairmen and Principal Officers in the process of budget passage.
“It is such gap that allowed Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa, Leo Ogor and few other committee Chairmen to perpetrate such monumental fraud in the 2016 budget.
“On the mismanagement of the internal budget of the House, the most important reform the House must embark on immediately is to ensure that the internal budget of the House must be circulated to members and made public so that Nigerians can see the expenditure of its elected officials.
“The running cost of members must be adjusted to a reasonable amount and made public but most importantly, the administration of the running cost must not be exposed to abuses as presently obtained.
“If these measures are carried out, we will not see such secrecy in running cost and monumental fraud in the management of the finances of the House and award of fraudulent and fictitious contracts under the watch of Speaker Dogara and the Chairman Houses services, Babanle Ila.
