The Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, was absent yesterday at the panel hearing set up by the State Assembly to resolve the lingering crisis over his inability to present the 2019 Appropriation bill.
The Assembly has been embroiled in crisis with Governor Ambode since December 2018 over the non-presentation of the 2019 budget, which led to the lawmakers threatening to impeach him if he fails to abide by the parliamentary tradition.
Though the governor insisted that he indeed sent the budget to the Assembly on December 28, 2018, the lawmakers disputed it, insisting that the budget was not before the House.
At a plenary session last week, over 20 lawmakers took turns to accuse the governor of infractions and violation of the Constitution for spending from the 2019 budget which they say he is yet to lay on the floor of the House.
Earlier this year, a committee headed by the deputy speaker, Wasiu Eshinloku, was set up to probe the 2018 expenditure of the governor. As a result, the state Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General, Budget and Planning Commissioner as well as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice were summoned to appear before the probe panel.
While submitting the report of the Committee before the House last week, the Deputy Speaker said his panel found Ambode guilty of the allegations against him and said he should either resign or be impeached.
Eshinlokun revealed that the committee met with relevant commissioners and heads of agencies and was told by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Segun Banjo, that no money had been spent for the year. He also said that the Accountant General told the committee that they were given the go-ahead to spend up to 25 percent of the 2019 budget before the approval in the new year. He said that they would have to make a recourse to the House if they wanted to spend up to N200 million.
The crisis further deepened when on Wednesday, January 30, the House convened an emergency parliamentary session over the matter. Immediately after the session, the majority leader, Sanai Agunbiade, told journalists at a press conference that the House is expecting Governor Ambode to appear before it on Monday, February 4, 2019 to explain why the executive has begun spending from a budget which is yet to be presented. Another panel headed by Agunbiade was then set up this week by the House to meet with the executive over the friction. The committee, it was learnt, met with some commissioners on Thursday, January 31.
Governor Ambode was expected to appear before the panel yesterday to defend his actions, but it was the deputy governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule who came in his stead.
She arrived the assembly complex without her official car because the meeting was meant to be a closed one. She was quoted as telling the panel that Governor Ambode has consistently maintained that he doesn’t deserve the treatment he is facing because he has committed no crime. The panel was closed to the press, but sources within the Assembly confirmed that the meeting held yesterday, saying it is part of an agreement to ensure that actions are taken in the interest of the state.
“Our people have also met with the deputy governor over the current friction. The meeting is just to find an amicable ground. We know the executive arm actually committed the infractions, but for the interest of the state and to keep it safe ahead of the election, we have to look for a soft landing for them. We are expecting the governor to appear on the floor of the House on Monday to answer some of our questions,” the source said.
Other members of the panel are; Moshood Oshun, Saka Fafunmi, Lanre Ogunyemi and Miranda Mojisola. It was learnt that the outcome of the meeting may be deliberated at a parliamentary session of the House when the lawmakers reconvene.
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