Senate on a collision course with Osun assembly over bailout funds

The Osun state house of assembly says the attempt of the senate to probe the application of N28.1 billion bailout fund allocated to the state by the federal government amounts to usurpation of power.

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, chairman of the house committee on information, said this at the plenary on Wednesday.

This followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Kamil Oyedele, chairman, house committee on finance and appropriation.

The senate had written a letter to the state on its decision to visit Osun to probe the disbursement of the fund.

But Oyedele said Section 120 Subsection 1-4 of the constitution states that if at all the national assembly has powers, it has to be by an Act, “because it is not an exclusive matter and for the fact that there is no existing law on it before now”.

“With these relevant sections, the state assembly is the arm of government empowered to carry out such probe,” he said.

“The senate is only attempting to usurp the power of the state parliament.”

According to him, there is a budgetary provision for the application of the fund and the state legislature is carrying out its oversight function by monitoring it.

He urged the assembly to invite the state government officials and other bodies in charge of disbursement of the funds “instead of waiting for the Nigerian senate to usurp its power”.

Najeem Salaam, the speaker, said the state parliament was not at loggerheads with the senate, but the red chamber must work within the limit of its power in accordance with the constitution.

“In a federation like Nigeria, each of the federating units has its limits and responsibilities. The state assembly has been carrying out this responsibility, especially on the bailout fund and other financial matters involving the state,” he said.

“We are in a federation and the federating units are co-partners; none of the units is subservient and each of these units has its limits, hence the decision of the senate to look into the accounts of this state is out of it.

“The state government has the authority of this parliament to get the funds and if there is any issue, we are the ones empowered to probe and make a recourse to the national assembly if there is need for such.

“As I am talking, we have not received any letter from the senate relating to the issue of bailout funds. Probably the senate has forgotten that we are colleagues, only areas of jurisdiction differ.

“It must be noted that this fund is a loan that would be paid back — not grant — and there are budgetary provisions for it. As a result, the state parliament is monitoring it, but with the action of the senate, it seems we need to make the monitoring open.”

He advised the senate to focus more on issues affecting the nation and assist President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver his change agenda.