Members of the All Progressives
Congress in the House of Representatives on Tuesday stalled debate on
the 2014 Appropriation Bill.
The development appeared to be the
first phase of the lawmakers’ compliance with the directive of the
national leadership of their party to “block” all Executive bills,
particularly the budget.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the lawmakers were set for a stormy debate on the budget.
The leadership of the APC had, at a meeting with the members of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, restated its directive to them to ensure that the Appropriation bill was not passed.
The leadership of the APC had, at a meeting with the members of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, restated its directive to them to ensure that the Appropriation bill was not passed.
The row in the House was however
prevented from degenerating by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, who
continuously advised the angry lawmakers to exercise decorum.
Tuesday’s plenary progressed normally
until Tambuwal asked the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola,
to lead the debate on the general principles of the N4.6tn budget.
She had hardly finished speaking when
an APC member from Benue State, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, raised a point of
order strictly on grounds of law.
Enoh, a Peoples Democratic Party member
from Cross River State, said, “I disagree with the indication that the
budget is in breach of any law whatsoever.”
Enoh reminded members that it was only
when the committees were satisfied with the details of the estimates
that they would report further action to either the House or call for
more information.
But, as he spoke, APC lawmakers booed him, some shouting, “no”, “no”; “it is not true.”
Tambuwal quickly intervened and ruled
that to avoid the matter dragging for long, he would set up a six-man
advisory committee to examine the issues raised by Jime and Enoh.
The committee was directed to report back to the House “within 24 hours.”
He observed that while Jime’s point of
order dealt with whether the budget complied with the law, Enoh, “in his
own opinion”, informed the House that there was no breach of the law.
Members of the advisory committee are
the Chairman, House Committee on Rules/Business, Mr. Albert Sam-Sokwa;
Mr. Sunday Adekpoju; Mr. Aminu Shagari; Mr. Ali Ahmad; and Mr.
Chukwuemeka Nwuogbo.
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