The House of Representatives has described as “highly
detrimental to the country’s economy,” failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to
appoint boards for government agencies.
detrimental to the country’s economy,” failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to
appoint boards for government agencies.
The federal lawmakers said Buhari’s continued delay in
appointing heads of boards points to the president wanting to govern the
country alone.
appointing heads of boards points to the president wanting to govern the
country alone.
In adopting a motion on the “Urgent need to Re-constitute
the Boards of Parastatals and Agencies in Order to hasten Good Governance”,
sponsored by Abdullahi Umar Faruk, the chamber called on the president to
appoint boards for parastatals as soon as possible.
the Boards of Parastatals and Agencies in Order to hasten Good Governance”,
sponsored by Abdullahi Umar Faruk, the chamber called on the president to
appoint boards for parastatals as soon as possible.
Faruk, in the lead debate noted that Section 5 (1) (a) of
the Constitution vests executive powers o in the President which he can exercise
either directly or through his deputy and ministers or officers in the public
service.
the Constitution vests executive powers o in the President which he can exercise
either directly or through his deputy and ministers or officers in the public
service.
He said the president has failed to use that power to appoint boards
for parastatals.
for parastatals.
Speaking in support of the motion, Toby Okechukwu who said
it was disappointing that even with talk of getting the country out of economic
recession, boards of key agencies had not been inaugurated, further posited
that the current situation amounted to “us abiding by the rule of man instead
of the rule of law”.
it was disappointing that even with talk of getting the country out of economic
recession, boards of key agencies had not been inaugurated, further posited
that the current situation amounted to “us abiding by the rule of man instead
of the rule of law”.
On her part Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje maintained that the delay in appointing new boards amounted
to subverting the country’s laws as some of the affected agencies were
established by Acts of parliament.
to subverting the country’s laws as some of the affected agencies were
established by Acts of parliament.
Also contributing to the debate, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor
said, “this is one motion that calls for good governance.
said, “this is one motion that calls for good governance.
It is a motion that
tells the president, ‘you cannot do everything alone”.
tells the president, ‘you cannot do everything alone”.
Edward Pwajok expressed dismay over the current situation
and reminded his colleagues that the president’s wife, Aisha had voiced her
displeasure over Buhari’s procrastination with regard to board appointments.
and reminded his colleagues that the president’s wife, Aisha had voiced her
displeasure over Buhari’s procrastination with regard to board appointments.
Pwajok equally added that Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF),
David Lawal Babachir should be questioned on why appointments were being given
to those who rejected them, when there are many qualified individuals eager to
serve the country.
David Lawal Babachir should be questioned on why appointments were being given
to those who rejected them, when there are many qualified individuals eager to
serve the country.
Suspecting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
hijacked the debate, Sadiq Ibrahim accused those who supported the motion of
having different “intentions and motives” from the sponsor who is a member of
the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
hijacked the debate, Sadiq Ibrahim accused those who supported the motion of
having different “intentions and motives” from the sponsor who is a member of
the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His position led to a sharp response from Ogor, who demanded
that the statement be withdrawn.
that the statement be withdrawn.
It took Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s intervention
to get Ibrahim to withdraw his statement, even as Ibrahim insisted that some
government parastatals have not lived up to expectation and that the president
had to take his time in appointing those who will supervise the agencies.
to get Ibrahim to withdraw his statement, even as Ibrahim insisted that some
government parastatals have not lived up to expectation and that the president
had to take his time in appointing those who will supervise the agencies.
Dogara asked the Committee on Governmental
Affairs to ensure implementation and revert back within four weeks.
Affairs to ensure implementation and revert back within four weeks.
