The Senate stop the amount of $1bn for Boko Haram fund

Senate stops $1bn Boko Haram fund

— 22nd December 2017

The Federal Government to withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fund the war against insurgency in the North East and other security concerns across the country, yesterday, caused a row on the floor of the Senate.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, however, assured that the  money will not be spent until the Senate considers the processes involved.

Trouble started when Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, drew the attention of lawmakers to the fact that yesterday’s Senate Order Paper did not list a motion on the $1 billion, despite the fact that the Senate had on Wednesday agreed to debate it.

Sam Anyanwu had on Wednesday, drawn the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the planned withdrawal of the sum had become a matter of urgent national importance and demanded for a serious debate. He asked the Senate to allow him sponsor a proper motion on the matter for debate the following day which was supposed to be Yesterday.

Shortly after Ekweremadu raised the matter, many lawmakers started agitating and wanted a positive response from Saraki.

Saraki did not explain why the motion was not on the Order Paper, but stated that the fact that Anyanwu was not in the chamber made it difficult for the debate to commence.

The announcement caused rowdiness, mostly from PDP Senators, as the next legislative day will unavoidably be in 2018.

They raised the fear that the fund would have been withdrawn and spent before it would be slated for consideration.

The Senate President, however, doused their fear by them assurance that the funds would not be spent without Senate consideration.

“We are pushing for the next legislative day but we will take it. I can assure you that we will take it. I give you assurance that we will take it,” he said even as jeers from PDP Senators continued.

Realising that Senators were insisting, Saraki added: “No no, no, no, no. Our party does not do things like that. We will not spend money that does not follow due process. I am assuring you that that money will not be spent until we come back here and debate it.”

Curiously, Anyanwu who was said to have been absent, resurfaced shortly after the Senate adjourned session till January 16, 2018 to attend a committee meeting without a word on why he stayed away from the chamber to present his motion.

Place Your Ad Code Here