Members of the
House of Representatives have taken a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan over
his failure to implement the 2012 N4.886 trillion budget.
To this extent,
the lawmakers threatened to commence the process of impeachment as from 18th
September 2012
deadline if the president and his ministers fail to ensure full implementation of the
2012 Appropriation
Act as signed into law.
The Lower House
also tasked Presidency to personally ensure compliance by the coordinating minister
for the economy and finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by ensuring immediate
release of all the funds appropriated for various ministries, departments and
agencies (MDAs) for the first and second quarter respectively.
The lawmakers who
expressed these concerns cut across all political parties.
In his lead
debate, chairman House Committee on Rules and Business, Sam Tsokwa, who
expressed concerns over about N200 billion released by Federal Ministry of
Finance for execution of capital projects out of N1.5 trillion allocated in the
Appropriation Act assented to by the Presidency.
In his
contribution, the minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila described the action of
the Executive as a "gross
violation" of the Appropriation Act, adding that it was an impeachable
offence.
He said “If by
September 18, the budget performance has not improved to 100%, we shall draw up
articles of impeachment against Mr. President," a proposal that was
overwhelmingly agreed to by the Lawmakers.