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The National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Ben Onyechere, says the comments on the passage of 2008 budget by the National Assembly is his personal opinion and not that of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Ben Onyechere, says the comments on the passage of 2008 budget by the National Assembly is his personal opinion and not that of the party.
While condemning the hike in the 2008 budget by the National Assembly, Onyechere was quoted to have accused members of the National Assembly of taking bribe to increase the allocation of federal ministries.
Clarifying the comments on Thursday, Onyechere said that the position should not be taken as that of the PPA but his personal view. He said that even though, in his capacity as the national publicity he could speak for his party, he also has his personal views.
The publicity secretary said it was wrong for the National Assembly to figuratively set financial goals for President Umar Yar'Adua when the president has his priority.
He said that hiking the budget was wrong since the National Assembly was not constitutionally empowered to implement budgets but to exercise oversight functions, adding that what he expected from the federal legislature was to make suggestion to the president on areas to get more money instead of outright rearrangement of the priority.
Onyechere said that federal lawmakers should concentrate their effort in the area of law making for good governance instead of trying to perform the duties of the Executive arm of government.
He said that his comments should not be interpreted to mean that he does not have confidence in the National Assembly.
adding: 'There is no doubt that the Senate and House of Representatives have men and women of integrity. Nigerians want them to bring their integrity to bear on whatever they do. Nigerians want a functional National Assembly that would be responsive to their yearnings.
'Senator Nuhu Aliyu recently said that there are some 419ners in the National Assembly. I thinks this allegation should be investigated. Where such people exists in the National Assembly and nothing is done, it would bring the integrity of federal legislature to disrepute."