COME AND DEFEND YOUR BUDGET OR GET ZERO ALLOCATION—REPS TELL COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER

THE House of Representatives Committee on Communications on Wednesday gave the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu  up till 10 00am this morning to appear before it for the defence  of the Ministry’s 2017 budget failure which the Ministry would be given zero allocation for the financial year.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi handed down the order yesterday when the officials of the Ministry led its Permanent Secretary; Mr. Sunny Echono appeared before the Committee for the second time for the defense of the budget

The Committee had earlier turned back the Minister last Month when he first appeared before it and was directed to come along with all relevant document again related with performance of the 2016 budget failure which the Committee vowed not to attend to the 2017 budget.

However, at the budget defense yesterday, the Committee members expressed anger over the absence of the Minister despite all the assurances earlier gotten to appear in person and insisted that he must appear in person

They stated that they were following the law that stated that the National Assembly must appropriate funds to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the government in every financial year and that the ministry risked having Zero allocation with the attitude of the Minister

The lawmakers pointed out that by even allowing the permanent secretary and others to appear before the Committee was a sign of respect for the him as they ought to have sent them out in the first instance based on the Minister’s behavior towards the parliament

The Chairman  explained  that the sitting had to be fixed for 4 00pm yesterday at the instance of the Minister to allow him to attend the Federal executive Council, FEC, meeting but expressed shock why he decided to stay away again

He directed the minister to appear before the Committee by 10 00am today along with all relevant documents earlier requested from the Ministry.