Browsing: NASS

“I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the Speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the job. We are not saying that you are not influential. We are not saying you cannot do your oversight. But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the Governor of the Central Bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to you and the entire nation.

“So, what is the power of the National Assembly as regards the budget? There is no Supreme Court judgement and the choice of our democracy is that the National Assembly has the last word. Even when they pass an appropriation that assent is refused, after 30 days, it becomes law,” Bagudu said.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, allowed for the First Reading of three bills to amend the 1999 Constitution to transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government. The bills, sponsored by 60 lawmakers across party lines, are expected to be gazette for the Second Reading and will be referred to the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, for further legislative action.