Ex-lawmaker urges NASS to scrutinise loans, seeks reduction in governance cost

A former member of the House of Representatives and Oyo South senatorial aspirant, Honourable Dada Awoleye, has tasked the National Assembly to tighten scrutiny of executive loan requests.

Awoleye, while featuring on the BCOS live television programme ‘Gbagede Oselu’ on Saturday in Ibadan, expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile and the lack of visible projects tied to the loans obtained by the government.

The former lawmaker stressed that no government, whether federal or state, could borrow money without the knowledge and approval of legislators, placing a critical responsibility on members of the National Assembly.

He implored his former colleagues to ensure that every borrowing request is thoroughly examined before approval and that lawmakers follow up to confirm that the funds are deployed for their stated purposes.

Awoleye faulted what he described as the failure of the current federal administration to show tangible results from the loans it had secured since assuming office.

He said Nigerians were only informed when loans were being sought but were not briefed on specific projects executed with the borrowed funds.

According to him, the National Assembly had approved two separate borrowing requests this month alone, with the latest running into millions of dollars, yet the public remained in the dark about the projects tied to the loans.

He argued that just as the public hears about borrowing plans, they should also be informed about what the money would be used for to enable citizens to monitor the implementation of such projects.

The former legislator expressed concern that a significant portion of borrowed funds was being channelled into the cost of governance rather than meaningful infrastructural projects that would benefit Nigerians.

He aligned himself with the view held by many citizens that the high cost of running government was consuming resources that should be directed at development.

Awoleye advocated the adoption of a unicameral legislature, arguing that maintaining only one legislative chamber would reduce the cost of governance and still ensure effective representation for Nigerians.

He, however, stated that cutting the cost of governance required the buy-in of all arms of government, including the executive and the judiciary, and not just the legislature.

According to him, without deliberate commitment from the presidency and other arms, efforts to reduce governance costs would not succeed.

Citing the campaign for patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, the ex-lawmaker questioned the commitment of the executive arm to cost-cutting measures, noting that Nigerian-made vehicles were largely absent from politicians’ convoys.

Awoleye concluded that members of the National Assembly must lead the charge for reducing the cost of governance, describing it as a battle that lawmakers should be at the forefront of.

Also speaking on the establishment of state police, he said that there must be amendments in the constitution before it can be enacted.

He added that there must be establishment of the State Police Service Commission for the state police to function well.

Awoleye who is also a former chairman of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, commended the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, for his reforms in the health sector.

READ ALSO: Students to gain more access to educational loans as NASS passes loan bill

“I would like to call on my colleagues in the National Assembly. Because I would say there is no money that any government, whether state government or federal government, will borrow without the knowledge of the lawmakers

“I want to implore my colleagues at the National Assembly to ensure that before such a request is approved, they see to it very well that such a request is well scrutinised. To follow it up, the money borrowed is being used for what it is meant for

“I have always said that this federal government administration, all the money borrowed so far, we have not really seen anything to show for it. All we hear is when they want to borrow the money.

“They have not actually come out to us clearly and told us what they have used the money for

“So, as the public is hearing about the borrowing, we are supposed to hear about what such money will be used for. So that we can also monitor it, that this is a project that this money being borrowed will be used for

“Many people believe that a chunk of this money is going to the cost of governance. I’m one of the people that have the opinion of having only a unicameral legislature instead of the bicameral legislature we are currently running

“And the presidency itself, the executive arm of government, even the judiciary, everybody has to really buy into this. Without the executive buying into it, there will not be any reduction in the cost of governance

“My colleagues in the National Assembly are the ones that have to be at the forefront of this battle, to have a reduction in the cost of governance

“There is need for the amendment in some contents of the Nigerian constitution, some are outdated, while we clamour for state police, there is also need for an amendment in the constitution for the creation of State Police Service Commission, for the state police to function well after its establishment,” he concluded.