Falana Accuses National Assembly of Approving N110bn Without RMAFC Approval

•Says money should be distributed to 360 constituencies  

•Civil rights group carpets NASS over move to stop protest

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana has asked the National Assembly to distribute the sum of N110 billion to the 360 federal constituencies in the country, stressing that it will go a long way to alleviate the harsh economic pains inflicted on the Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Falana, in a statement tagged, “Why National Assembly Should Distribute N110 Billion to 360 Constituencies,” accused the lawmakers of appropriating additional N70 billion for the renovation National Assembly complex, when the previous N37 billion earmarked for same purpose had not been accounted for.

The fiery lawyer also demanded the refund of  N40 billion allegedly used for the purchase of bulletproof cars for the leaders of the National Assembly, without the authorisation of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)

The statement read: “Sometime in 2020, the National Assembly members unanimously approved N37 billion for the face-lift of the National Assembly Complex.

“The huge cost of the repairs of the complex was greeted with nation-wide condemnation in view of the fact that the sum of N128 billion had been allocated for the National Assembly in the 2020 Appropriation Act.

“Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan defended the renovation fund, stating that the National Assembly building had not been renovated for 20 years. According to him, when the 9th National Assembly resumed, it was discovered that some parts of the property had become dilapidated.

“We have confirmed that the N37 billion face-lift of the complex has not been completed. Curiously, the members of both houses of the National Assembly

have erroneously approved another sum of  N70 billion for the face-lift of the same complex without any request for a review of the N37 billion renovation contract.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), added: “We have also confirmed that the RMAFC did not authorise the N40 billion for purchase of bulletproof cars  for the leaders of the National Assembly.

“Therefore, the total sum of N110 billion should be distributed to the 360 federal constituencies in the country. Since each constituency will receive not less than 305 million it will go a long way to alleviate the harsh economic pains inflicted on the Nigerian people as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration.”

Meanwhile, civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, carpeted the 10th National Assembly (NASS) over their moves to stop the nationwide protests of the organised labour against the anti-people policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

HURIWA also asked the National Industrial Court or the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal not to allow the humongous fund of N30 billion recently allocated by Tinubu to the judiciary as palliative measures against high costs of fuel, to influence their determination of cases instituted at the National Industrial court by the federal government to use ‘Jankara Market Restraining Order’ to perpetually impede the decision of the oppressed workers under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on strike due to excessive upward reviews of pump price of fuel by the current administration.

Also, the Rights group has charged the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to discharge justice equitably and fairly and not allow the intended monetary inducements of N30 billion palliative from the government to the judiciary, to influence the outcomes of the petitions challenging the validity of the February 25th Presidential Election.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the legislature controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has no power to change the tenets of free speech and democratic ideals such as embarking on strikes by workers which are provided for in a plethora of laws in Nigeria and many international labour agreements endorsed and domesticated by Nigeria.