National Assembly Aware Of Wike’s Borrowing Plans, Says Reps Spokesman
The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has reacted to allegations that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, took loans without the consent of the National Assembly.
Agbese was responding to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration had borrowed money without legislative approval.
However, Agbese said while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday that it was misleading to suggest that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly or acted outside the established procedures in securing funds for projects in the FCT.
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He said there was no iota of evidence that Wike breached any law in the execution of projects and programs in the FCT.
“Public borrowing was controlled by constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving government institutions,” the lawmaker said.
“Wike has not violated any rule in borrowings. “There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He said Wike had always subjected the administration of the FCT to legislative scrutiny especially through presentation and consideration of its budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.
Agbese argued that the increase in the debt profile of the FCT could not be deemed as an illegal borrowing arrangement in itself.
He said that borrowing for infrastructure development was not illegal in itself if the required approvals and procedures were followed.
“The key issue is whether the required approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.
He also dismissed the claim that Wike acted without legislative oversight, adding that the National Assembly had continued to exercise oversight functions on the FCT Administration in line with its constitutional mandate.
“Searchlight has found that the FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants. “He has always engaged with the National Assembly and subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” he said.
He called on lawmakers and others to rely on specific transactions and official documents and not political claims for allegations on public borrowing.
“If there are concerns about specific borrowing arrangements, Senator Kingibe or any other interested party should name the transactions and ask the relevant authorities to present the documents and approvals by which they were governed,” he said.
