$1bn B’Haram fund: Gbaja backs Fayose, says govs should have consulted state assemblies

Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of representatives, says the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) did not follow due process in approving the withdrawal of $1 billion from the excess crude account (ECA).

On Thursday, the national economic council (NEC) approved the withdrawal of $1 billion from ECA to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti, has since kicked against the decision, alleging that money would be used for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid.

But in a statement, Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu, Gbajabiamila’s media aide quoted the lawmaker as saying governors should have sought approval from their state house of assemblies before making the donation.

He also said Fayose has the right to kick against the decision of the governors.

“The ECA I have always maintained is an illegal account and I instituted a court action against it during then Jonathan administration. Unfortunately until a final decision has been made by the courts the account is still operative,” the statement read.

“Where the governors have decided to ‘donate’ some of their funds from the ECA to fight Boko Haram, their state assemblies can kick against it that such was not appropriated by them.

“I do agree that due process wasn’t followed by the governors as they should have sought approval of their states before the donation. It is however not for the national assembly to complain on behalf of the state assemblies.

“This is part of the principle of separation of powers in a constitutional democracy. The national assembly can only discuss the portion of the federal government money spent if any.

“On whether governor Fayose or any other governor has a right to kick I believe he does.

“No matter how inappropriate if he does not accede to the request or deduction from his state’s portion there is no amount of consensus that can bind him as postulated by the chairman of the governors forum because such portion belongs to his state and not to the governors forum. So he may be entitled to a refund.”