A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Jombo Clement, representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal constituency of Akwa Ibom State, has disagreed with those calling for a huge reduction in the budgetary provision for the National Assembly.
There have been clamours to slash the NASS budget, with some Nigerians stating that the lawmakers were not performing any tangible work commensurate with their pay.
This is also coming at a time the National Assembly has been described as being too attached to the executive.
“It is clear, in my opinion, that Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President and the lawmakers, especially those in the APC, cannot take any decision that goes against the executive even if such decision could favour the masses.
“That’s the situation we find ourselves in. We see this often. You saw how the ministers were confirmed, you also saw how almost the whole NASS stood, sang and pledged allegiance to the President during the budget defence.
“What else do you expect? It’s already one-sided and Nigerians are at loss because it is taxpayers’ money we’re talking about,” Mr Joshua Akpevweogene, an Abuja-based politician, told DAILY POST.
However, in a chat with DAILY POST, Hon Clement described people who feel the 10th Assembly is rubber-stamp as “only being economical with the truth.”
He said, “any National Assembly member that calls for the scraping of the parliament is clever by half,” he said.
The lawmaker said that the National Assembly deserved its yearly budget.
He went further to highlight some of the laws and acts made by the legislature that have been of immense benefit to the people.
“The Laws and Acts that birthed the following: the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ICPC, Customs, FIRS, NSCDC, Immigration Services, Nigerian Port Authority, Central Bank, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, etc, were all the creation of Parliament and are helping in keeping this great nation together.
“It is important to stress here that these agencies of government are enveloped with Nigerians working and maximising their potentials.
“Therefore, the amount budgeted for the National Assembly is adequately justified,” he said.
