Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja on
A Member, of the House of Representatives, from Lagos State , Hon Ganiyu Olukolu has said that the N75 billion approved by President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua for constituency projects for members of the National Assembly was not a bribe.
A Member, of the House of Representatives, from Lagos State , Hon Ganiyu Olukolu has said that the N75 billion approved by President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua for constituency projects for members of the National Assembly was not a bribe.
The rep member of Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency of Lagos State disclosed that there was no way Mr President would approve suchan amount for lawmakers, adding that the President is too prudent to do such a thing for whatever motive.
'The truth is that there is nothing like that. There is nothing like settlement in the budget. The constituency project, if you don't know is N40 million per constituency; so there is no secret about that. Besides, the project is to be executed by the executive. They don't pay any kobo to any member, the lawmaker explained.
'The ministries are the one executing the projects. They only ask members to bring the areas in their constituencies that they would like the projects to be cited," he said, adding that, 'the constituency projects touched only three areas; education, health and water.
As a representative from Lagos State , Olukolu said that he had been asked to name a project in his constituency and that he had nominated the building of some blocks of classrooms, clinics and children hospitals for his constituency.
He stated that the approval was given after a meeting between the executive and the lawmakers where it was strongly canvassed that there was the need to let the grassroots people feel the presence of the Federal Government in their localities.
On the performance of members, the lawmaker admitted that the House still have a lot to do to improve the standard of living in the country.
'The primary job of bill making is not disturbed in any way since we have plenary every time. The house has never said there will be plenary today because we are going oversight. You know eighty percent of us are new members whereas just twenty percent are old experienced people. They still have to go through the learning process when we come in now in the New Year you will see that things will be faster"
He also agreed that the signing of the 2008 budget was delayed because they are trying to lay a solid foundation for the country and for dividend of democracy to come the way of the electorate.