Following the public outcry over the withdrawal $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal government, the Senate has said it would bring a motion to that effect.
Recall that on December 14, the Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, told state house correspondents that the money is to be used to fight Boko-haram in the north-eastern region of the country, as approved by the National Economic Council (NEC).
It was the resolution of the 83rd Council meeting chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo.
The decision sparked a nationwide outrage especially when Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, dissociated himself from the move reportedly sanctioned by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and with activists and opinion leaders in strident antagonism.
Concerns were also raised about how the decision contravenes the provisions of section 81 (1-3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Coming on a point of order on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Sam Anyanwu (PDP, Imo), requested the leave of his colleagues to bring the matter up in a motion on another legislative day.
Anyanwu said: “I will like to bring this up as a formal motion. Mr. President in few days, the television and social media has been awash with the issue of the 1 billion US dollars that was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account. There has been a lot of controversies generated in the country.
“Some were making issues that the governors’ forum gave their consent for the withdrawal of this money. I believe it is very clear in the constitution of the section 81 (1-3), that for any withdrawal from the consolidated revenue account or any other account of the federal government must have the approval of the National Assembly.”