Commotion was the order of the day on Thursday (yesterday) as the Senate was thrown into a rowdy session. This was as a result of arguments based on the propriety of President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for $1 billion loan to tackle insurgency.
Though the senators eventually approved the request, opposition lawmakers had taken offence against the approval, leading to altercations between them and senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Shortly after the presentation of the joint committee’s report which recommended the approval of the loan, some aggrieved members displayed their displeasure.
Senator Ahmed Makarfi, chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, had presented the report jointly put together by his committee and the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and indicated that the loan should be approved.
In its report, the committee stated that the approval of President Jonathan’s request was in order, as the decision would enable the country to tackle insurgency.
According to the committee, its meetings with stakeholders, as well as memoranda received over the issue supported the claim that obtaining the loan would ensure a decisive war against terrorism. The report also stated that the terrain was specialised and that it needed special equipment being sought through the loan.
The report also indicated that the number of helicopters in the fleet of Nigeria Air Force was inadequate for effective operations, while the fleet was further depleted with the burning of two helicopters recently by insurgents in Borno State.
The committee submitted: “That in view of the joint committee’s findings, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement and the urgent need to restore full normalcy in the country, the joint committee recommends that the Senate approves the external loan in kind of $1 billion to tackle the ongoing security challenges.”
Senator James Manager, who was the first to comment on the report, asked the Senate to immediately approve the report.
But his position was contested by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, who declared that the loan had consequences on the existing Appropriation Act.
Senator Adetunmbi also quoted Section 81(4) of the 1999 Constitution as well as Section 83 to support his claim, while insisting that the request would run contrary to the Appropriation Act.
He also quoted Section 41 (a) and (b), 42 (1) and (8), Section 44 (1), (2) and (3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, adding tat the sections gave clear guidelines and procedures for borrowing and managing loans.
His position was supported by Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, who insisted that the Senate should declare whether Adetunmbi was right or wrong.
An angry Makarfi then took the floor and insisted that claims by Adetunmbi and Akume were irrelevant to the report before the senate.
He said: “With due respect, all the issues raised are not relevant to the issue we are considering now. The simple reason is that you asked a question about the definition of ‘in kind” and I said it is not cash flow or inflow.
“You talked of appropriation when there is cash inflow or outflow. You are taking goods on credit and the request said we are paying over seven years and each year, we are going to make payment. It is going to be in the appropriation act.
“The National Assembly will have to appropriate the payment; the executive cannot just go outrightly and pay. And what is required is in compliance with the Public Procurement Act.”
Senate President David Mark, who presided over the sitting told his colleagues not to mix up the matter at hand. He ruled that Senator Adetunmbi and Akume were wrong with their submissions.
He told Akume specifically:”The question you asked is whether Adetunmbi is right in what he said or not and the simple answer is ‘no’. He is not right.
So, please, merely quoting the constitution does not make him to be right. Because he is quoting the constitution doesn’t mean he is right.
“Please, I want us to address the issue properly. I know he quoted constitution and he quoted from our Standing Order but that is not what makes him to be right.”
When the Senate President put the question, the Senators voted in favor of the loan.
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