El-Rufai’s challenge to NASS: What Nigerians think
On Friday, April 7, 2017, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and principal officers of the National Assembly sharply disagreed on transparency in the legislature’s budget and its role on the federal government’s anti-graft war. On Monday, the governor made public his security votes as in the 2017 budget and his February salary, and challenged […]
On Friday, April 7, 2017, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and principal officers of the National Assembly sharply disagreed on transparency in the legislature’s budget and its role on the federal government’s anti-graft war. On Monday, the governor made public his security votes as in the 2017 budget and his February salary, and challenged the National Assembly to do same. As the drama is currently unfolding, Daily Trust sought the views of a few Nigerians on the entire debacle.
A move like that is the best bet for the nation because whatever is being done now should be transparent and they should be accountable to the public. The public has the right to know. Democracy is for the people and by the people. Whatever is being done, let Nigerians know because everyone has their own hidden agenda. But generally my plea with Nigerians is to be patient with the president and give him total support to bring us out of financial and political backwardness.
Awodeyi Akinsuyi, Former gubernatorial aspirant, Ondo State, Akure
To the best of my understanding, we don’t have a budget. A budget is something that is meant to be made public and not a hidden thing. So making the budget public shouldn’t even be a big deal. It is something that is meant to better the lives of all Nigerians so it is more than okay and justifiable to make the budget public. But I think the only issue is that El-Rufa’i shouldn’t be the one dictating what the National Assembly should do or how to go about their business. The National Assembly consists of people who have come together to represent their people and they are people of high profiles and is an arm of government. El-Rufa’i as a governor should not be interfering on what goes on in the legislature. The Senate President has spoken before on the public participating in the act of budgeting so I don’t think that it is even something that the National Assembly is afraid of doing. So for me, yes it should be made public but someone from the outside should not be telling them what to do.
Abraham Omachoko, Politician, Abuja
I believe the National Assembly should take up the challenge. Nigerians should know and we should be told how much their budget is and what it is allocated for. We have that right. They are civil servants and they were voted and elected to work for the interest of the people.
Dr. Sikiru Lawal, Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Ado Ekiti
Yes, because this is a time when we are focusing on accountability and transparency. We want to move forward and if we want to actualize the change and move forward then the National Assembly should take up the challenge. El Rufa’i doesn’t even need to challenge them before they make the budget public. They should be leading by example.
Comrade Musa Ali, North Central leader of coalition of APC support groups, Abuja
Yes, definitely. Nigerians deserve to know the budget and how it is implemented. Presently, we all feel like being kept in the dark and it is our right to know what our leaders are doing with public money.
Emeka Aneke, Gas Seller, Gwarimpa, Abuja
I believe El-Rufai was right to do so because Nigerians want to know where the country is heading. How much is the National Assembly budget and what is it being used for? Is it going to be a case where it all goes into their pockets or the poor man benefits from it too? Even if they do not disclose it now the truth has its way of coming out. Look at how looters are being exposed. Some Nigerians gave birth under the hot sun voting for this administration on Election Day and others fell ill, all to see change. We should be paid back for our suffering by doing what is right.
Musa Aminu, Cloth Dyer, Gwarimpa, Abuja
I think it was a bold move because the House is supposed to let us know either way, whether they have been challenged or not. We want to know how the country is being run and the amount of money being used too.
Tanko Sabo, Trader, Life Camp, Abuja