Akintola said the lawmakers are empowered to increase or decrease amounts allocated by the executive for each item in a budget.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeniyi Akintola, has said that the electorate’s ignorance is the reason why lawmakers embark on constituency projects which is not their function.
In reaction to the allegation that lawmakers padded the 2024 budget from N25 trillion to N28.7 trillion, Akintola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the legislature is empowered to increase or decrease amounts allocated by the executive for each item in a budget.
Akintola noted that under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), the National Assembly had no power to execute any project. He said it is the responsibility of the executive to do so.
“We cannot blame the National Assembly members. The electorate doesn’t know that the National Assembly’s function is to make laws and not to allocate projects,” the lawyer said.
“Unfortunately, it is the same electorate that will go to them and be asking for largesse, palliative or what have you.”
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The legal luminary stressed the need for political education of the electorate to enhance good governance in the country.
Akintola said Nigerians should hold their lawmakers accountable and ensure that they see to the implementation of the budget as stipulated.
“That the executive has come with a particular figure doesn’t make it final. It is the duty of the National Assembly to appropriate money for specific sectors.
“So, there is nothing like padding as far as the National Assembly is concerned; it is a misconception and misuse of words,” Akintola said.
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