Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has reacted to allegations that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, took loans without the consent of the National Assembly.
Agbese was reacting to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration had taken a loan without the approval of the legislature.
But Agbese said in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Thursday that it was misleading to claim that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly or acted outside the laid down procedures in securing funds for projects in the FCT.
He said there was no evidence that Wike breached any law in the execution of projects and programs in the FCT.
“Public borrowing was regulated by constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving government institutions,” the lawmaker said.
“Wike has not breached any rule in borrowings. “There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He said Wike has always been subjected to legislative scrutiny the administration of the FCT particularly through the presentation and consideration of its budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the increase in the debt profile of the FCT could not be considered as an illegal borrowing arrangement in itself.
Borrowing for infrastructure development was not illegal in itself if the required approvals and procedures were followed, he said.
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“The key issue is whether the necessary approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.
He also debunked the claim that Wike acted without legislative oversight, saying the National Assembly had continued to exercise oversight functions on the FCT Administration in line with its constitutional mandate.
“FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants under our searchlight. “He has always been engaging with the National Assembly and the activities of the FCT Administration have been subjected to legislative scrutiny,” he said.
He urged lawmakers and others to base allegations on public borrowing on specific transactions and official documents and not political claims.
He said if there were concerns about specific borrowing arrangements, Senator Kingibe or any other interested party should name the transactions and ask the relevant authorities to present the documents and approvals by which they were governed.
