Why Senate slashed Lagos-Ibadan road budget– Saraki

* ‘No pre-meditated plan to stop Magu’

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday justified the slashing
of the Lagos-Ibadan highway budget.

He also said he had stopped collecting pension as a former Kwara
State governor.

He also spoke on why the Senate declined to clear Ibrahim Magu
as chairman of the Economic and Fiancial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).

At the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja Dr. Saraki
said there was the need to allow private sector participation in a
road as important as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Government alone cannot reduce infrastructure deficit,” he
said.

Minister of Works, Power and Housing Babatunde Fashola raised
the alarm that the National Asssembly slashed N11 billion off the
N31billion approved in the 2017 budget.

He was attacked by the lawmakers. Senate Appropriation Committee
Chairman Danjuma Goje asked Fashola to say if he was tired of the
job given to him.

House of Representatives Media Committee Chairman Abdulrazak
Namdas, said the National Assembnly slashed the road’s budget
because the proposal by Fashola’s ministry was lopsided in favour
of a section of the country.

But the Senate President yesterday said: “We are really pushing
the idea of, particularly, the Lagos-Ibadan road, that
appropriating that project from the budget does not show
seriousness.

“This is a road that is very viable; that is centre of the
commercial activity and we should see how private sector can
participate.

“For example, even if you go by the budgetary allocation on that
road, last year was N30 billion, this year, after back and forth,
we took it back to N20 billion.

“This was done so that if they don’t find private funding, we
will take it up,’’ he said.

According to him, even if the N30 billion was provided, it will
not be enough because that road needs about N100 billion to be
completed.

“So, the point I’m making, which I want to emphasise, is that it
is the kind of laws and policies that we pass that will encourage
private sector that will make the infrastructure deficit to
reduce.”

On collection of salary and pension by some senators, Saraki
said he wrote a letter to the Kwara State Government to stop the
payment of his pension.

Civil society organisation Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) accused some former governors of
receiving double pay from the government.

“No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that
allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.

“So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am
not receiving pension from my state,’’ he said.

On other senators accused of getting double pay, Saraki said: “I
think I will leave everybody to their individual decision.

“Morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up
until when you are truly a pensioner.

“Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What
the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if
you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that
benefit.

“With this, we will just simplify the matter.”

Saraki explained that contrary to insinuations, the Senate had
no pre-meditated plan to reject Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to him, Magu’s rejection was prompted by report from
the Department of State Services (DSS), among other issues, and the
screening was aired “live’’ on national television for all
Nigerians to watch.

“I think there is a lot of misunderstanding and blackmail and
all is not in the interest of democracy.

“The rejection of candidates presented to the National Assembly
is a process. It is a process that is not restricted to the EFCC
chairman.”

Saraki maintained that the decision of the Senate to reject the
confirmation of Magu was in the interest of democracy.

“When some people have particular interest, they will try and
bring this down to individuals. There is nothing personal on the
personality of the acting Chairman of EFCC.

“As an individual, I have had a personal experience with Magu,
where he stood up for what is right.

“I remember during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, where because we were fighting some of the issues
then, some of us were sent to the EFCC.

“I remember I was sent to Magu’s Office. They were trying to get
him to investigate something of 10 years, 12 years ago; I remember
Magu said nobody was going to use him,’’ he said.

On allegations that Magu’s confirmation was stalled for fear
that senators may be prosecuted by him, Saraki said it was far from
the truth.

Saraki added: “we cannot belittle or weaken the institution
because it is that institution that separates democracy from
dictatorship.

“When you weaken the parliament, you have weakened
democracy.

“If you think by so doing you are weakening Saraki, you are not,
it is the institution.’’

* ‘No pre-meditated plan to stop Magu’

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday justified the slashing
of the Lagos-Ibadan highway budget.

He also said he had stopped collecting pension as a former Kwara
State governor.

He also spoke on why the Senate declined to clear Ibrahim Magu
as chairman of the Economic and Fiancial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).

At the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja Dr. Saraki
said there was the need to allow private sector participation in a
road as important as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Government alone cannot reduce infrastructure deficit,” he
said.

Minister of Works, Power and Housing Babatunde Fashola raised
the alarm that the National Asssembly slashed N11 billion off the
N31billion approved in the 2017 budget.

He was attacked by the lawmakers. Senate Appropriation Committee
Chairman Danjuma Goje asked Fashola to say if he was tired of the
job given to him.

House of Representatives Media Committee Chairman Abdulrazak
Namdas, said the National Assembnly slashed the road’s budget
because the proposal by Fashola’s ministry was lopsided in favour
of a section of the country.

But the Senate President yesterday said: “We are really pushing
the idea of, particularly, the Lagos-Ibadan road, that
appropriating that project from the budget does not show
seriousness.

“This is a road that is very viable; that is centre of the
commercial activity and we should see how private sector can
participate.

“For example, even if you go by the budgetary allocation on that
road, last year was N30 billion, this year, after back and forth,
we took it back to N20 billion.

“This was done so that if they don’t find private funding, we
will take it up,’’ he said.

According to him, even if the N30 billion was provided, it will
not be enough because that road needs about N100 billion to be
completed.

“So, the point I’m making, which I want to emphasise, is that it
is the kind of laws and policies that we pass that will encourage
private sector that will make the infrastructure deficit to
reduce.”

On collection of salary and pension by some senators, Saraki
said he wrote a letter to the Kwara State Government to stop the
payment of his pension.

Civil society organisation Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) accused some former governors of
receiving double pay from the government.

“No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that
allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.

“So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am
not receiving pension from my state,’’ he said.

On other senators accused of getting double pay, Saraki said: “I
think I will leave everybody to their individual decision.

“Morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up
until when you are truly a pensioner.

“Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What
the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if
you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that
benefit.

“With this, we will just simplify the matter.”

Saraki explained that contrary to insinuations, the Senate had
no pre-meditated plan to reject Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to him, Magu’s rejection was prompted by report from
the Department of State Services (DSS), among other issues, and the
screening was aired “live’’ on national television for all
Nigerians to watch.

“I think there is a lot of misunderstanding and blackmail and
all is not in the interest of democracy.

“The rejection of candidates presented to the National Assembly
is a process. It is a process that is not restricted to the EFCC
chairman.”

Saraki maintained that the decision of the Senate to reject the
confirmation of Magu was in the interest of democracy.

“When some people have particular interest, they will try and
bring this down to individuals. There is nothing personal on the
personality of the acting Chairman of EFCC.

“As an individual, I have had a personal experience with Magu,
where he stood up for what is right.

“I remember during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, where because we were fighting some of the issues
then, some of us were sent to the EFCC.

“I remember I was sent to Magu’s Office. They were trying to get
him to investigate something of 10 years, 12 years ago; I remember
Magu said nobody was going to use him,’’ he said.

On allegations that Magu’s confirmation was stalled for fear
that senators may be prosecuted by him, Saraki said it was far from
the truth.

Saraki added: “we cannot belittle or weaken the institution
because it is that institution that separates democracy from
dictatorship.

“When you weaken the parliament, you have weakened
democracy.

“If you think by so doing you are weakening Saraki, you are not,
it is the institution.’’