Barely few hours after the European Union made a donation of N21 billion, approximately 50million Euros to the Federal Government of Nigeria to help in tackling the menace of Covid 19, the leadership of the National Assembly, paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, where they advised him on better management of the funds.
NASS also proffered ways the Buhari administration can make life more meaningful to Nigerians, especially with the extension of the lockdown by an additional two weeks.
Although President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila met with Buhari behind closed doors on Tuesday, at the presidential villa, they told State House correspondents shortly after the meeting, that there was need for the various donations to be pooled in a single account, with a fund management committee appointed to coordinate the disbursement.
According to Lawan, all these measures would help instill accountability and transparency as well as a strong sense of separation of power where necessary.
Daily Independent learnt that their fears may not be unconnected with previous donations that accrues to the country and the controversies that usually trails such donations.
Lawan said: “The leadership of the National Assembly has been holding series of meetings with Ministers and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and this afternoon we had an engagement with the President to discuss with him what we have resolved as leaders of the National Assembly and our opinion on various issues regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria as well as going forward.
“For example, the various donations that we are receiving should go into a single account and should have a fund management committee that would be in charge of releases. Accountability and transparency require that we have that separation.
“It is also an opportunity for us to commend Nigerians and corporate bodies that have given us donations but we believe there should be more coordination as far as the management of the funds donated is concerned.”
Lawan used the opportunity to commend the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for working hard to address the challenge confronting the nation.
“I believe the Presidential Task Force is doing a very good job, they have been very proactive and they deserve our commendation,” he said.
The Senate President also spoke with the President on the need for a review of the way the social investment programme of government is being implemented, so as to reach more Nigerians, especially the category of people the programme was meant for.
“We also believe that it is time to reform the way and manner we implement the social investment programme, This is a very important programme that is meant to help poor and vulnerable Nigerians and we believe that having implemented it for four years or more, we should be reviewing to evaluate the efficacy efficiency with which we have been implementing the programme.
“I believe that we also need to legislate on how to fight poverty in Nigeria because this is one issue that has been there for quite some time and therefore there is need for us to have a very clear and well spelt out processes and procedures on how to tackle poverty.
“There should be very little or no room for discretion so that we have a programme that will be very transparent and should go deep down to those who really deserve to have the support and should be such an equitable and fair programme as far the geographical spread across the country is concerned,” he said.
The Senate President said the National Assembly is on standby to reconvene and thrash the issue of the N500 billion stimulus package on cushioning the effects of COVID-19 proposed by government, when presented to it.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said discussion on the issue of providing free electricity for Nigerians as result of the lockdown on COVID-19, also came under their deliberation with the President, adding that the gesture if bought into will make Nigerians more comfortable as they stay at home.
“You know I am very passionate about electricity for our people. Interestingly I brought it up today and we discussed that with the President and hopefully in a matter of days he will meet with the stakeholders on electricity.
“I impressed on him my position, the DISCOs have their issues, no question about it but at this point in time we need to put that aside and think of the Nigerian people.
“The President listened very attentively and I think hopefully whatever the issues are we will be able to resolve them at least for these two months and then long-term, how electricity will not be an issue but what is imperative right now, is when you ask people to remain at home, you must make that home a little bit comfortable for them,” he said.
