By JUMI RHODES





The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has clarified issues on the National Assembly's(NASS) inclusion in the Treasury Single Account(TSA) policy. Recall Senate spokesman and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliu Saabi Abdullahi had explained the rejection of the TSA by the National Assembly that "fears that the adoption could frustrate the smooth functioning of the National Assembly led to the decision to outrightly reject its extension to the country’s apex law making body."


Hon. Yakubu Dogara however in a series of tweet-chat earlier today said: "As for Revenue all NASS receipts go to TSA. We are part of it. Get the arguments right. We are part of TSA but opposed to Executive control of NASS, Judiciary and INEC except as the Constitution allows. Arms of government such as NASS and Judiciary just to distinguish them from MDAs. Think outside the constitution and our laws?





"Nigeria is a Democracy not an Empire. This should be the ideal position or we create an Agency that is independent of all arms of Govt to manage the TSA.I will defend the constitution. My first duty is to ask what does the law say about any issue. NASS has always stood for TSA. I am a lawmaker. You won't win if you tell me to be against the law. In line with that NASS will remain strong and unshaken in defending the Constitution and democratic norms cum ethos."





When Sahara Reporters tweeted a question on the prompting of Senate president and Speaker Dogara's refusal to join the Treasury Single Account, Dogara replied: "PMB may have good intentions and may not want to manipulate NASS, Judiciary or INEC, but who knows the future?"

hmm....

I'm confused

Get the arguments right. We are part of TSA but opposed to Executive control of NASS, Judiciary and INEC except as the Constitution allows.

Well said Mr. Dogara.
---
On other matters, the current FX policy is the most hypocritical policy yet by this administration. A government that is practically forcing everyone else to stop importing is, however, very comfortable to allocate over $18m (N3.6bn) to import foreign (BMW) cars.

Why not lead by example and patronize locally made Innoson cars. If you have quality and safety concerns there, why not atleast, patronize locally assembled foreign cars like Peugeot, Hyundai, etc.

Impressive. Dogara seems to be his own man.
That said its easier to be your own man when you don't have corruption case hanging over your head like Saraki.


On separation of powers, Buhari has demonstrated so far he respect the Constitution. Except in the issues of dasuki and kanu.
In his closed door meeting with the lawmakers, he has to appeal to their sense of patriotism or veto the budget if they insist on allocating stupid money for themselves.

We must continue to champion our Constitution above personality. We must not turn Buhari into a demigod.
That's what a few people did and Obasanjo started manipulating for third term.

The danger of the executive managing the funds of the National assembly or the judiciary is that a President may punish them as he desires like Obj tried withholding Lagos state budget when Tinubu was governor.
Never again.

The money allocated to the na & judiciary should not be channeled to the tsa coz they are a different arm of govt

This is a step in the right direction. What we should now focus on is to ensure the legislature, judiciary and all other autonomous entity open up their books for public scrutiny, by enforcing our right to freedom of information.

Like Dogara said we should not because buhari is sincere now to assume everybody that will come after him will be , and thank God all this bodies are not revenue generating, so for me is a win win for the masses.

rusher14:
One question:

Why does the Judiciary, the third arm of government get such a low budget year after year?

Probably cos they are ;

1. Perpetual & eternal leeches who are assured of a lifetime of emoluments .

2. It is a known fact that they make 100x their wages by manipulating the laws to suit corrupt individuals & sell “ex parte" orders & black market injunctions like akara

Just kidding, I'm baffled too.

Psalm18:
or veto the budget if they insist on allocating stupid money for themselves.


Never again.

You are funny.

How can Buhari criple his government because other organs of government refused to be his puppet?

Buhari owes GEJ much gratitude for his veto on the constitutional amendment that would've rendered him powerless

IsraeliAIRFORCE:


You are funny.

How can Buhari criple his government because other organs of government refusal to be his puppet?

Buhari owes GEJ much gratitude for his veto on the constitutional amendment that would've rendered him powerless

Did you read the part where I mentioned he should try and speak sense to them during his closed door meeting. He has lots of goodwill from majority of Nigerians and the national Assembly wouldnt want to be seen to go against public opinion.

Failing to do that, then a standoff. Which I hope it does not come to.

It was a positive Jonathan retained power of veto for the executive. I agree with you on that.

Psalm18:

Did you read the part where I mentioned he should try and speak sense to them during his closed door meeting. He has lots of goodwill from majority of Nigerians and the national Assembly wouldnt want to be seen to go against public opinion.

Failing to do that, then a standoff. Which I hope it does not come to.

It was a positive Jonathan retained power of veto for the executive. I agree with you on that.

The bone of contention here is not the TSA itself rather who controls the system.

The Legislature and Judiciary are clamouring for an independent agency free from one sided (domineering) influence of the executive to control the system as to ensure and maintain a strong independence for the three organs of democratic governance.

I hope you understand the discourse

IsraeliAIRFORCE:


The bone of contention here is not the TSA itself rather who controls the system.

The Legislature and Judiciary are clamouring for an independent agency free from any superior influence of the executive to control the system as to ensure and maintain a strong independence of the three organs of democratic governance.

I hope you understand the discourse

You cherry picked my earlier post and drew my attention to only one aspect(veto)when I addressed the control of tsa vis a vis the budget, separation of powers and rule of law.

Edit: cheers IsraeliAirforce

They know that with TSA it will be difficult for the goats to eat any yam without being traced. I urge the President not to give in to these fraudsters in NASS.

Psalm18:


You cherry picked my earlier post and drew my attention to only one aspect(veto)when I addressed the control of tsa vis a vis the budget, separation of powers and rule of law.
I hope you can read and comprehend.

Now I understand you better after going through the last paragraph of your first submission.

Dogara comes across an intelligent man. He is one of the few politicians I geninelyt like.

ON the issue of TSA, I will disgaree with him cos of people like saraki. If given free hand, saraki and his goons will dip their hands in the cookie jar at will.

Both parties must respect the constitution, but i dont understand the so-called cars that NASS often buy as if its freee as listening to Radio station

NASS are found of wasting our national financial resources and it must stop ASAP

Grundig:
Dogara comes across an intelligent man. He is one of the few politicians I geninelyt like.

ON the issue of TSA, I will disgaree with him cos of people like saraki. If given free hand, saraki and his goons will dip their hands in the cookie jar at will.

We are discussing institutions of government and their independence, not personalities who are disposable.

Democracy is dependent on strong institutions and not on individuals who may turn out to abuse the process.

TonyeBarcanista:
They know that with TSA it will be difficult for the goats to eat any yam without being traced. I urge the President not to give in to these fraudsters in NASS.

What are you saying

NNPC is not even part of it

And the only usefulness of TSA is that all unused money sitting idle in banks are recovered


Most of these agencies steals before coming out with statements of account

Not to talk of surrending the funds to someone already displaying tyranncy, he will just one day tell his image launders nd career praise singers to release statement to the public that the reason NASS is not getting funds is because he has the interest of Nigeria at heart

ND they don't even deserve it

IsraeliAIRFORCE:


We are discussing institutions of government and their independence, not personalities who are disposable.

Democracy is dependent on strong institutions and not on individuals who may turn out to abuse the process.

Bravo

There are ways to make TSA work for each arms and tirs of government.

All expenses are budgeted for and when its within the limits of the budget, NA gets it share within TSA.

Even if the TSA has its own disadvantages, NASS ll alwz want to put their selfish interest first...... Whateva ll not benefit them, is not good for Nigerians and therefore shld be stopped...

To me is all about who will arrange the yam (money) between the sheep(buhari/FG) and the goat(NASS) away from each others grip.

*winks*

Awon Ole giving excuse since 1870....

@Psalm81 & ISRAELIAIRFORCE, nice argument without insults. Thumbs up.

This is where 'standing-on-the-fence' status maintained by BUHARI during the election of principal officers of NASS was a miscalculation; you can see that these pdp agents in Apc are not in sync with BUHARI on many issues. First , it was purchase of cars, now it's TSA. I hope they don't frustrate his budget and it's implementation.

doqara leave trash for lawma abeg

Bevista:
Well said Mr. Dogara.
---
On other matters, the current FX policy is the most hypocritical policy yet by this administration. A government that is practically forcing everyone else to stop importing is, however, very comfortable to allocate over $18m (N3.6bn) to import foreign (BMW) cars.

Why not lead by example and patronize locally made Innoson cars. If you have quality and safety concerns there, why not atleast, patronize locally assembled foreign cars like Peugeot, Hyundai, etc.

you believe that 3.6 billion story?

"As for Revenue all NASS receipts go to TSA.

I want to ask, how do they generate their own revenue pls?

"PMB may have good intentions and may not want to manipulate NASS, Judiciary or INEC, but who knows the future?"

To my own interpretation cld this be shld in case baba dies and the lagos kingkong take over will the account be safe?

BALLOSKI:
you believe that 3.6 billion story?

First and foremost, the story was carried by major tabloids, particularly The Nation newspaper.

Secondly, the government has not refuted the story.

Finally, though I did not watch the presidential media chat, I am told that the president was confronted with the issue and his explanation was that the cars are not part of his official fleet but statutory purchases for use to carry foreign Heads of States.

TonyeBarcanista:
They know that with TSA it will be difficult for the goats to eat any yam without being traced. I urge the President not to give in to these fraudsters in NASS.

no TSA is a lazy brain accounting and doesn't do more than curtailing 1st Line goat eating yams. Corruption takes forms and tackling it must assumed similar forms too.