Akume ‘not performing’ as senate army committee chair

Abdullahi Danbaba, senator representing Sokoto south, says George Akume, chairman senate committee on army, is not performing his duty.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Danbaba said the committee has not gone on oversight of any army project since it was constituted about three years ago.

The senator, who is the vice-chairman of the committee, said a bill that was referred to the committee over a year ago is still at its secretariat.

“We as senators are supposed to have the roles that we need to play in the national assembly. Fundamentally, we are supposed to legislate, support our constituents and also undertake oversight with respects to projects that are being executed by the executive arm of government.

“I want to say that a committee that I am a vice which has been constituted over three years has not been actually performing as a result of leadership. The committee Mr. President, since its inception and constitution we have not over sighted any army project. In fact, the only oversight that has been said to be oversight was our visit to the army headquarters in 2016. Beyond that, we have never done or undertaken any proper oversight with respect to the activities of the Nigerian army.

“In fact Mr. President, the senate is completely detached from the Nigerian army. We in the senate do not know what the Nigerian army is actually doing. I want to say this again, there was a draft bill that was referred to about two years ago. That draft bill is still lying down on the table of the clerk of the secretariat of the committee because the leadership of the committee has not been able to give direction on what to do with the bill.”

Danbaba said the ethics committee should investigate the conduct of the army committee.

“I hereby call for the committee on ethics and privileges to ask to investigate as to the conduct of the committee and why the committee leadership is allowed to stand as it is because the name of the senate is going to be brought to disrepute,” he said.

Thereafter, Senate President Bukola Saraki directed Ahmed Lawan, majority leader, to meet with Akume and Danbaba and report back.

Efforts to reach Akume to get his own side were not successful.