Budget padding: Only Jibrin will appear before Ethics committee —Reps spokesperson

chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, on Thursday, said that only the former chairman, House committee on Appropriations, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, would face the House committee on Ethics and Privileges over the allegation of budget padding he raised against the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and some other principal officers of the House.

According to Honourable Namdas, Honourable Jibrin would be questioned by the committee on Ethics and Privileges based on the allegation he made against the House as an institution.

While briefing newsmen at the National Assembly, Honourable Namdas said that the House will follow its rules during the investigation.

According to him, “The investigation has to do with the institution. The committee will investigate what affects the institution.

An individual does not pad budget, it is the work of the entire House to pass the budget.”

On the insistence by Honourable Jibrin that he would only attend the committee’s probe if it is open to key stakeholders in the country, Honourable Namdas said that, “the House has rules. It is not for Abdulmumin to set agenda for the committee. He is a former chairman of Appropriations committee.”

He, however, said that the lawmaker was keen on proffering solutions on how to reflate the economy and move it out of recession.