Breaking: House of Reps summons Fashola over unsavory comments on budget

On Tuesday, July 4th 2017, the House of Representatives resolved to summon Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, to respond to allegations that the House messed up with the Ministry’s 2017 budget and cut appropriations for important infrastructural projects.

Mr. Fashola had accused the National Assembly for inserting projects outside the scope of his ministry in its budget in the 2017 Appropriation Act. He also accused the National Assembly of removing N21 billion off the N31 billion planned to be used for the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The minister stated that it was unfair to the executive arm of government for the involvement of such projects after public hearings on the budget and defence of the fiscal estimates by ministries.
It will be recalled that there had been ongoing verbal combat between the National Assembly and the Minister regarding the budget that had been signed into law by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. Coming under the Matters of Urgent Public Importance, the House jointly agreed that the Minister had rifted their individual privileges as well as that of the institution of the Legislature.

 

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