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Tag: Senate

  • Senate confirms Musiliu Smith as PSC chairman, six other members

    The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Musiliu Smith as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari recently nominated Smith to take over from Mike Okiro, also a former IG.

    Others confirmed by the Senate are Clara Ogunbiyi, Lawal Bawa, and Muhammad Najatu.

    Others are Braimoh Austin, Rommy Mom and Nkemka Oshimiri Jombo-Ofo.

    The lawmakers made the confirmation after voice votes which followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.

    While congratulating the new appointees, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the Senate fast-tracked the approval because of the competence of nominees.

    “Let us congratulate the new members of the Police Service Commission and at the same time commend the quality of the candidates that have been nominated and brought forward by Mr. President. It gives us all a lot of hope and encouragement that all our efforts to see that this crucial aspect of our security architecture reform will begin with this process.

    “We wish all the members the best of luck. They have a lot of expectation from Nigerians and before this nomination that is why we fast-tracked the nomination. A lot of people are expecting, with their experience, the capacity of the people now in the service commission, to support the police in carrying out the necessary reform that is required; particularly in ensuring that we drive a merit orientated police force, performance driven, that would motivate all the necessary members to do the right thing to provide us security.

    “Let us at the same time also ensure that they look into the areas of rewarding performance in being able to compensate those who have worked hard.

    “Once again I congratulate these members and I wish them the very best,” he said.

  • Buhari forwards 2019 election budget to Senate for approval

    Buhari forwards 2019 election budget to Senate for approval

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday forwarded a budget of N254 billion (N254, 445,322,600) to the Senate to prosecute the 2019 general election.

    The president in a letter sought the approval of the sum which will be drawn from the 2018 and 2019 budgets.

    In the letter titled ‘Request for virement and supplementary 2018 budget,’ President Buhari urged the lawmakers to remove projects earlier inserted into the budget and replace them with priority projects as contained in the original bill.

    While signing the budget on June 20, President Buhari raised the alarm that Nigerian lawmakers had tampered with the document sent to them.

    Buhari said the National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.

    Buhari in his Tuesday letter insisted he would not submit a supplementary budget to fund these priority projects. Instead, he urged the lawmakers to remove those inserted.

    Also contained in the letter is the supplementary budget of N242 billion (N242,445,322, 600) to fund six agencies in the 2019 general election.

    Of the total sum, N164 billion (N164,104,792,065) will be drawn from the 2018 supplementary budget while N78 billion (N78,314,530,535) will form part of the 2019 budget of these agencies.

     

    Below is Mr Buhari’s letter:

    Request for virement and supplementary 2018 budge

    As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair election, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations.

    INEC and the security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests and these have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the election is estimated at N254, 445, 322,600. However, in line with the prevailing fiscal I’m proposing that the sum of N164, 104, 792, 65 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget. I propose that the balance of N78, 340, 530, 535 mostly related to personnel allowances, fuelling and other costs not required until election proper be provided in their 2019 budget.

    The proposal for the 2019 election is as summarised below:

     

    INEC

    2018 supplementary – N143, 512, 529, 445

    2019 budget – N45, 695, 015,438

    Total: N189, 207, 544, 893

     

    Office of the National Security Adviser

    2018 supplementary – N3, 855, 500, 000

    2019 budget – 426, 000, 000

    Total – 4, 281, 500,000

     

    DSS

    2018 supplementary – N2, 903, 638, 000

    2019 budget – N9,309,644,455

    Total – N12, 213, 282, 455

     

    NSCDC

    2018 supplementary – N1, 845, 597, 000

    2019 budget – N1, 727, 997, 500

    Total – N3, 573, 534, 500

     

    Nigeria Police

    2018 supplementary – N11, 457, 417, 432

    2019 budget – N19, 083, 900, 000

    Total – N30, 541, 317, 432

     

    NIS

    2018 supplementary – N530, 110, 078

    2019 budget – N2, 098,033, 142

    Total – N2, 628, 143, 320

     

    Total amount (for 2019 election)

    2018 supplementary – N164, 104, 792, 065

    2019 budget – N78, 314, 530, 535

    Total – N242, 445, 322, 600

    You will also recall that when I signed the 2018 appropriation act, I indicated the need for reinstatement of certain cuts made to certain critical projects provided in the original executive bill. I’m therefore submitting for your consideration the reinstatement of most of the most critical of such cuts totalling N67, 742, 216, 150 which are summarised in page one. The total amount required to be provided for in the 2018 budget for the 2019 general election and to restore the identified critical projects to the amount earlier proposed is, therefore, N228, 854, 800, 250. Implementing a budget of N9.12 trillion for 2018 would be extremely challenging and therefore, I do not consider it expedient to propose a further increase to the size of the 2018 expenditure framework to fund these very important and critical expenditure items.

    Accordingly, I invite the distinguished Senate to consider, in the national interest, relocating some of the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018 budget proposal totalling N 578, 319, 951, 904 to cover the sum of N228, 854, 800, 205 required as noted above.

    A schedule sitting out a comprehensive list of these inserted projects is attached to this letter for ease of your consideration.

    Further to the above, kindly find attached a supplementary budget and virement proposal for your consideration.

    While hoping that this request will expeditious consideration of the distinguished Senate, please accept, Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.

     

    Yours sincerely,

    Muhammadu Buhari

  • Senate invasion: Reps approve 180 days’ suspension for Omo-Agege

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed the recommendations of a joint ad hoc committee of the National Assembly, which recommended the immediate suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for 180 legislative days.

    The joint committee was constituted to investigate the invasion of the Senate chamber on April 18 and subsequent stolen of the mace.

    The committee’s 10-point recommendation was adopted after Rep. Betty Apiafi (Rivers-PDP), Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, laid the report at the Tuesday’s plenary session.

    The legislators also called for the immediate prosecution of Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) and six other suspects on charges of treasonable felony, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy to steal and actual theft of the mace.

    They resolved that Omo-Agege should also be prosecuted for incitement and breach of peace inside the Senate chamber and contempt ex-facie.

    At its Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Lasun Yusuff, the lawmakers urged the National Assembly management to review the existing security operational procedure.

    This, they resolved would enable the Sergeant-at-Arms to take the lead in providing security in the complex.

    Also, the House recommended special compensation for five members of staff who did their best to retrieve the mace, but were overpowered by the invading thugs.

    It also commended the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, for refusing to be intimidated by the invasion and upholding his oath of office.

    Recall that Omo-Agege was suspended by the Senate for 90 days in April.

    This followed his comments at a press briefing that the proposed amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act to change the sequence of elections set by INEC was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Although, he later apologised for his comments, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges recommended his suspension for 181 legislative days.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki recommended its reduction to 90 legislative days.

    After his suspension, thugs believed to be working for him invaded the Senate and made away with the Mace, the symbol of authority. Omo-Agege, however, denied any involvement with the incident.

    He later challenged his suspension in court and the Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently nullified the action, directing that he should be allowed to resume.

    On May 16, he turned up in the senate and signed the attendance register at about 10.30a.m before proceeding to the upper legislative chambers just as the Senate was going into a closed-door session.

  • Former Senate President talks of Gov. Okowa as Worthy Ambassador

    Former Senate President talks of Gov. Okowa as Worthy Ambassador

    Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has described Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as a worthy ambassador of the upper legislative chamber.

    TheNewsGuru reports Senator Mark noted that Okowa’s silent revolution in terms of infrastructural development in Delta state is a testimony that he is effectively combining legislative and executive experiences to develop the oil rich state.

    Senator Mark in a congratulatory message to Okowa on his 59th birthday noted that “Okowa is a focused and result oriented administrator.

    “The number of projects so far executed by the Okowa’s administration in Delta state, the peace and unity on account of equity and justice to all gives me a sense of pride that his Senate experience is paying off”.

    “I can only add that you (Okowa) sustain and indeed improve on these giant strides in Delta state. The people deserve nothing less,” Mark further stated.

    He noted that Okowa is upholding tenaciously the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which the governor translated to “prosperity for all Deltans”.

    Senator Mark recalled that Okowa cannot afford to do less judging from his experiences as secretary to local government, council chairman, commissioner, secretary to the state government, Senator of the Federal Republic and now a governor.

    “He has wealth of experiences in leadership and administration which he is bringing to bear. Okowa is an asset and I am sure the people of Delta are proud of him”, Senator Mark added.

    TheNewsGuru reports Senator Mark was the President of the 7th Senate during which Okowa served as chairman Senate Committee on health.

     

  • [FULL LIST] Senate adopts 20 recommendations to improve security

    In a bid to improve security and curb killings across the country, the Senate on Thursday received and adopted the report from its Security Summit.

    The summit which held from February 8 to 12 in Abuja was organised by the National Assembly with the aim to proffer solutions to the growing rate of insecurity in the country.

    The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North) presented the report to the upper chamber after over four months.

    The report, which has 20 recommendations, called on the federal government to make more recruitments in to the various security agencies in the country as the current personnel are overstretched.

    In the report, the Senate also called for low-interest rate loans for herders to develop ranching businesses in the country as well as integrate the Almajiri system with the formal educational system.

    Read the full recommendations below:

    20 Recommendations from the Report of the Nigerian Senate’s Security Summit Nigerian Senate’s Security Summit

    1. The nation’s basic security infrastructure must be comprehensively reviewed and strengthened. The Nigerian political structure must be a major factor in the review of the nation’s security apparatus.
    2. The security challenges of the nation must be isolated from political partisanship, and ethno-religious sentiments. Political activities must not fuel the further deterioration of the nation’s national security.
    3. The national security structure of the nation must be revised by the Presidency to address the gaps in coordination, collaboration and synergy. Additionally, clear lines of authority and responsibility for national security issues must be identified and adopted.
    4. In order to increase the capacity of the Nigerian police, military and other para-military agencies (who are currently overstretched) to respond to national security issues, the federal government must ensure that there is further recruitment in these organisations.
    5. Ensure that the collaboration between federal security and law and order agencies must be reviewed in order to reduce the exposure of citizens to extra-legal influences.
    6. Investments by the federal government must be made in order to incorporate technology into the core of Nigeria’s national security architecture and management.
    7. Nigeria must reduce its dependence on importing its basic security equipment and must immediately develop its internal research and development capacities in order to meet our basic national security needs.
    8. The Nigerian judiciary must operate with the highest standards of justice in order to ensure that citizens have confidence in our judicial system’s ability to freely and fairly dispense of justice.
    9. The nation must examine options other than the use of force in its response to national security issues. The nation must develop strategies to improve the chances of resolving conflicts without resorting to the use of force.
    10. The nation must immediately develop a strategy to limit the proliferation of firearms and other light weapons amongst the citizens.
    11. Nigeria must assert its sovereignty amongst its neighbours, particular in the areas of arms control, drugs, terrorism, transhumance and economic sabotage. Additionally, all international commitment that impact our domestic national security must be reviewed.
    12. The international commute has demonstrated its willingness to support Nigeria in the fight against violent groups. In this regard, the nation must improve in areas that inhibit its support from the international community — particularly in the areas of human rights, accountability and transparency.
    13. The presence of millions of IDPs in the North-East and millions of other who have had no education or strong social links presents a potent threat the present and future security of the nation. The nation must immediately develop careful policies and initiatives that are aimed at addressing the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and development of the North-East and the development of the uneducated members of our society.
    14. The national growing population may become a major threat to its future, unless substantial and sustained investments are made in the areas of human capital development, particularly education and health. In this regard, a visionary strategy must be developed for the national economy that is aimed at providing quality education, skills development and employment for our nation’s young people.
    15. Corruption and waster are threats to our national security. In this regard, a strong political will, effective policies and improvements must be made to ensure the efficiency of institutions.
    16. The entire focus of governments across all levels must target poverty reduction, as poverty is a threat to national security. All current policies must be re-evaluated to ensure that they are effective.
    17. The nation must develop its knowledge and skills in managing its extensive forest reserves in order to turn them into assets. This is because the nation’s demographic indices indicate shifts in our population size, composition, land use and impact of the environment on human economic activities.
    18. There is a need to generate the strong political will to improve the policy, legislation, regulatory and enforcement capacities to reduce the damage of the production, importation and consumption of illicit drugs in the nation — which represent a major threat to national security.
    19. The Federal and State governments should work out a strategy to integrate the Almajiri system with the formal western educational system.
    20. The Federal Government should provide low-interest rate loans for herders to develop ranching businesses in the country.

  • Senate demands probe of Lagos explosion, to meet NNPC, FRSC

    The Senate has called on the Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion of a tanker laden with premium motor spirit (petrol) in Lagos last Thursday.

    The Senate also plans to meet with the FRSC and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to seek amendment of extant laws needed to check accidents involving articulated vehicles.

    This was based on a motion at the plenary on Wednesday by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos-East), in conjunction with senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos-Central) and Solomon Adeola (Lagos-West).

    A tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol had crashed, emptied its content and exploded on the Otedola Bridge end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last Thursday, with 12 confirmed deaths and 54 vehicles burnt.

    Granting prayers of the motion, the lawmakers resolved to “urge the FRSC, the Nigeria Police and all relevant security agencies to cooperate with Lagos State and other states in ensuring that drivers of articulated vehicles comply with all federal and state traffic safety laws.

    “We urge the Nigeria Police to work in conjunction with the FRSC to carry out a thorough investigation of the circumstances leading to the accident that led to the fuel tanker fire, with the view to prosecuting anyone found culpable in this preventable fire incident.

    “The relevant committees of the Senate should invite the FRSC and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with a view to finding a legislative solution towards ensuring that, before trucks are loaded, mandatory safety checks are put in place to ascertain the condition of the tankers and the roadworthiness of the vehicles.”

     

  • Tanker explosion: Senate takes action, as Saraki calls for accountability

    Tanker explosion: Senate takes action, as Saraki calls for accountability

    The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday resolved to urge the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Police and all other relevant security agencies to cooperate with Lagos state and other states in ensuring that drivers of trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles comply with traffic rules and regulations.

    The Senate also urged the Police to work in conjunction with the FRSC to carry out a thorough investigation on what led to the tanker accident on Otedola Bridge, by the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Speaking on the Senate’s resolution, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said:

    “I think this is something that could have been prevented if we all abide by the traffic safety guidelines and ensure the enforcement of existing laws.

    “This is a lesson that we need to learn from. Those agencies that are in charge of ensuring the safety of tanker movement across the country must ensure compliance to ensure that the tanker drivers have gotten adequate licenses and vehicles have received their adequate certificates showing that they are in good condition to ply our roads.

    “Until we continue to do that, and hold those accountable, we will continue to see these kinds of accidents. These are things that are preventable and we must ensure that on our part that we see to prevent them,” the Senate President said.

    The Senate further resolved to direct its relevant committees to invite the FRSC and NNPC to develop solutions to prevent such accidents, while also urging the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and State Governments to accelerate the development of trailer parks and installation of way bridges to manage the trailer movement on the roads.

     

  • Killings: Senate bows to pressure, to revisit calls for State Police

    The Senate on Tuesday said it would revisit calls for State Police and design framework for mopping up 350 million light weapons suspected to be in circulation within Nigeria.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, made this known while welcoming senators to plenary after a three-week Eid-el-Fitr recess.

    Saraki said that with the security challenges across the country, it seemed that the issues were an indication that it was time to revisit the issue of State Police.

    He said that the 350 million light weapons believed to be circulating around the country, had an alarming ratio of three weapons to one person.

    The Senate president said the responsibility for ensuring security lay with every Nigerian.

    “Issues of criminality are involved in these heinous acts, and the vigilance of community leaders and the average citizen is crucial to assist the security agencies to do their job.

    “Let me use this opportunity to call for calm on all sides.

    “We have called many times for unity and tolerance, and we must remind ourselves of the imperative of peace at this difficult time in our nation.

    “We are resuming plenary today under a pall of national anxiety and apprehension over the state of insecurity in the country.

    “We have been alarmed at so many senseless killings of Nigerians, with the high number of casualties in Plateau being among the most glaring of late,” he said.

    Saraki also said that moderation was needed in speech and actions of people as responsible citizens, even in what might be deemed as provocative situations.

    “We must, therefore, be careful of speech that has the potential to heat up the polity and heighten tensions.

    “We implore the media also to exercise great responsibility in their reporting. Fake news can lead to dire consequences that we can ill-afford.

    “Nigeria is the only country we have,” he said.

    He said that internal tensions were also a reflection of the economic condition of the citizenry, and urged all stakeholders to put Economic Bills on the fast lane “in order that we may conclude them.

    “This is so that we can open the door to greater opportunities for our people. Growth and development can only serve to deepen our democracy.”

    On the achievements of the 8th Senate in the last three years, Saraki said “indeed, we have come a long way and have set a new bar in the legislative history of this country.

    “We have passed 213 Bills in the period under review and cleared 138 Petitions, surpassing in three years, the records of the entire four-year terms of every previous Senate.

    “This is no mean feat. As we hit the home run, therefore, it is important we do not back-pedal or slow down.

    “We must intensify efforts towards doing all that we are sworn to do for the electorate that voted for us as their representatives.

    “With the backing of Nigerians, we have been able to introduce landmark legislations that have helped boost our recovering economy.

    “These include Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which is the most significant business reform Bill in Nigeria in nearly three decades.

    “As a result of the signing into law of the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act and the Credit Bureau Reporting Act, for instance, Nigeria was upgraded on the World Bank’s annual Ease-of-Doing-Business ranking.

    “This has been a very welcome development for our economy and for restoring investor confidence in our business terrain.

    “It was in the life of this Senate that we finally split the atom of the once intractable Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), after almost two decades in the legislative wilderness.

    “We split the Bill into four manageable parts, and not only have we passed the first of those, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    “We have started work on the remaining three, the Administrative, Fiscal and Host Communities components of the Bill and have already taken them up to public hearing stage.

    “The clock is ticking and we must ensure that we conclude work on the remaining PIB Bills as soon as possible. Nigerians deserve no less,” Saraki said.

    He further said that the Not-Too-Young-To-Run-Bill, which received Presidential assent on May 31, 2018, received wild jubilation around the country, due to the momentous generational shift it was expected to trigger in national leadership.

    “This is in paving the way for the greater participation of youths in governance.”

    Saraki called on the Executive to expedite the release of funds for the 2018 Budget implementation so that Nigerians could begin to see the positive impact in their lives without delay.

    “The work is not done. We as the senate must continue to exercise our oversight functions to ensure successful implementation and value for money.”

    He advised that as the country inched closer to the 2019 electioneering period, senators must not lose focus.

    “The divided attention of the legislature is not in the interest of the country. We must not be distracted.

    “It is incumbent on us, therefore, to not allow politicking get in the way of our first duty to the Nigerian people, as senators of the Federal Republic.

    “I charge us all to fasten our seatbelts and power on with the work we have been tasked to do.

    “Posterity is watching, and history will vindicate us if we do the job with diligence and in truth,” the senate president said.

  • Security: Senate begins work on creation of state, community police

    Security: Senate begins work on creation of state, community police

    The Senate on Tuesday resolved to direct its constitutional review committee to put in place the machinery to amend the Constitution to allow for the creation of State Police.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Senate also mandated that the Police Reform Bill be passed within the next two weeks.

    This was following a debate on the killings across the nation and in Plateau State, following a Point of Order raised by Senator Jonah Jang.

    Find below the Senate President’s comments:

    “We have talked about the fact that whether these killings were initial acts of aggression or reprisal attacks, it is clear that either way, it is totally unacceptable and we must condemn it in all totality.

    “Secondly, these are acts of criminality and we should not encourage any other colouration to it, be it religious or otherwise. This is criminality. And as such, we have a role to ensure that we must address this criminality to see how we can fight it.

    “We have spoken on many platforms and made suggestions to the Executive on the fact that there is a need for an urgent review of the security architecture of the nation.

    “The debate in the British House of Lords also raises this point: “How do we think this would affect our economy and investments if we continue to have this kind of security climate?” We must see this issue of insecurity not only from the point of view that there is danger and insecurity, but there is also a danger to our economy — especially if we want to grow our economy.

    “We as the Senate must come up with our own actions. We do not need to flog the issue. We have told the Executive what to do. We have told them privately and we have told them publicly. However, on our own part, we must decide on what we need to do.

    “There are a few issues that have come up for discussion:

    “We have had the address from the Security Chiefs that came here on the issue of coordination to strengthen the nation’s security.

    “We have had the Report from the Senate Security Summit that we need to consider and deal with.

    “Now, we have the comments from the Deputy Senate President on the issue of State Police.

    “We have a Bill on Police reform that is due for Second Reading and passage.

    “We have the Composition of the Police Service Commission, which is listed on today’s Order Paper.

    “These are things that are within our control. Let us play our own part to address the issues that we have control over”.

    The Senate, thereafter resolved to:

    “Condemn the terrorist attacks, mass killings and displacement of the people and occupation of their central homes and farmlands;

    “Urge the Executive to overhaul the security architecture of the country and to put in place a better security action plan and decisively tackle violent terror attacks threatening the continuous existence of communities in the North Central geopolitical zone and indeed Nigeria;

    “Urge the Executive arm of the government to undertake the rehabilitation of displaced persons and reconstruction of communities in Plateau North, South and Central Senatorial Districts so they can return to their homes and farmlands;

    “Urge the Executive arm of government to apprehend and persecute all perpetrators and sponsors of violence, no matter how highly placed they are;

    “Direct its constitutional review committee to put in machinery to amend the constitution to allow for the creation of State Police;

    “Fast-track the passage of the Peace and Reconciliation Bill;

    “Call on security agencies to stop involving themselves in the politics of the nation; and

    “Mandate that the Peace and Reconciliation Bill, Police Reform Bill be passed within the next two weeks and the Constitution Review Committee within the next two weeks should bring forward the amendment for State and Community Policing”.

     

  • Protests: Senate dismisses calls to scrap constituency projects

    The Senate at the resumption of plenary session after its Sallah break on Tuesday vowed to resist attempts to scrap constituency projects.

    The decision, which was taken after a voice vote by the lawmakers, followed a motion by Sen. Barnabas Gemade (APC-Benue).

    While presenting the motion, Gemade said that the move followed a protest by some people at the National Assembly (NASS) entrance.

    He said “some Nigerians are capitalising on the ignorance of others to pitch them against the National Assembly.

    “This morning as I drove into the National Assembly for resumption, I saw a number of luxury buses with so many people carrying placards at the gate, condemning the National Assembly over constituency projects.

    “The people were equally demanding that constituency projects be stopped.

    “I feel that whoever is behind this demonstration is poorly informed about what constituency project represents to a Nigerian legislator.

    “This project was introduced to give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians. The N100 million captured in the 2018 budget for constituency projects is to cover over 469 constituencies and this money translates into a paltry 0.4 per cent of the capital budget of the nation.

    “I cannot see how such insignificant percentage of the total budget will affect the implementation of the budget.’’

    The lawmaker said that prior to the introduction of constituency projects, many constituencies were not covered by projects being executed by the Executive.

    He added that “ministers and other officials of government, including permanent secretaries and director-generals of some agencies have the privilege of implementing projects in their areas of jurisdiction and we who represent the people have nothing to show for it.

    “Therefore, the introduction of constituency projects has helped our constituents to feel government’s presence.”

    Many lawmakers also emphasised the need to continue to support the existence of constituency projects in view of its impact on the lives of the people.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said protests had been merchandised, owing to unemployment and poverty.

    He said “unemployment and poverty has forced some people to find a means of survival by organising protest.

    “They are protest contractors. They go to government officials whom they believe are opposed to the National Assembly and collect money and pay a paltry sum of N500 to youths to protest.’’

    Sen. Atai Aidoko (PDP-Kogi) said that rather than call for the scrapping of the project, Nigerians should call for more funding, given the importance of the projects to the people.

    He said “this is another attempt to pitch the people against the national assembly ignorantly.

    “Late President Musa Yar’adua saw the need for constituency projects and graciously captured it in the budget.”

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said it was important to continue to educate the public on the importance of constituency projects and to correct misconceptions about it.

    He said lawmakers only attract projects to their constituencies to ensure federal presence and equitable representation of projects in the country.

    He added that “such projects ensure equity and justice because for as long as you cannot find Federal Government presence in the constituencies, it is corruption.

    “How can you justify certain constituencies not having federal projects when we spend N2 trillion every year on capital projects and there are parts that do not have any project at all.

    “Some Nigerians are being used because of poverty in the country and what is worrisome is that those who are using the others are part of government.”

    He said that the current development where some people were causing misunderstanding between the Legislature and Executive would not promote harmony between the two arms of government.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the development and call those responsible to order.

    He added that “there is no secret in this. If you go out there, these protesting boys will tell you who is sponsoring them.

    “I really do not understand how we will promote unity with this sort of activities. It is not about us as individuals but about the institutions. If we continue to weaken the institution, it will hunt us when we need it to stand for democracy.’’

    Sakari urged those with scores to settle to find other means of doing so instead of causing confusion.