There appears to be an imminent showdown between the Executive arm of government and the Legislature next week as members of House of Representatives have threatened to boycott session next week. The boycott is aimed at frustrating the presentation of 2019 appropriation bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The threat was a reaction to some uncomplimentary remarks on them attributed to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma over Super Tucano jets. The Minister was alleged to have accused the Legislature of stifling efforts to lay the budget, saying they have not given them a date.
But upon resumption of plenary and subsequent reading of a communication from President Buhari which requested the House to designate Wednesday next week for the laying of the document, the House erupted in anger against the Minister. Members who were livid with the Minister said he deliberately lied against them to bring the institution of the legislature to a state disrepute and ridicule and subtly cover up the incompetence of the executive arm. They wondered why an arm that only completed work and approved the budget estimate last week Friday would turn around accusing the lawmakers of dereliction of duty.
Much as the arguments went, the House relying on the intervention of the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara resolved that should the Minister fail to tender public apology, retracting his alleged statement before Tuesday next week, the House would be forced to take a decision on the matter.
