A
human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has advised the Acting President
Yemi Osinbajo not to sign the 2017 budget because it was illegally increased by
the National Assembly.
He
also said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not competent to sign the
appropriation bill into law because he is on vacation.
Falana
spoke in Ilorin, during a colloquium organised by the Movement for Genuine
Change to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Kwara State.
He
explained that once Buhari had transmitted a letter to the National Assembly
that he was proceeding on vacation, all presidential powers had automatically
been transferred to Osinbajo who is now the Acting President.
He
stated that until the President writes another letter to the federal parliament
at the end of his vacation, he cannot exercise the powers of his office.
Falana
said, “The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on
vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a President who is on a
vacation and an acting president, who is standing proxy for him will be
exercising presidential powers simultaneously.
“To
that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the Acting
President, Prof. Osinbajo, is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the
NASS.
“If
President Buhari did not exercise powers during his vacation even though he was
in the country, why would he want to do so while he is on medical vacation
abroad?
“Instead
of dissipating energy over the competence of an appropriation bill signed into
law by the Acting President, Nigerians should subject the 2017 budget to
scrutiny.
“We
are therefore calling on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a professor of law not to endorse and sign
the illegal appropriation bill of 2017 into law.”
Falana
also explained that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to
increase the budget presented by Buhari.
He
said the legislators erred constitutionally by increasing their share of the
budget.
He
also said the debate over Buhari’s medical vacation should henceforth centre on
the urgent need for the Federal Government to equip hospitals across the
country.
The
Senior Advocate of Nigeria condemned any attempt to truncate Nigeria’s
democracy and urged Buratai to properly investigate the coup rumour and
prosecute the culprits.
He
said, “The enemies of democracy are desperately trying to exploit President
Buhari’s ill health to truncate the democratic dispensation.
“Notwithstanding,
the glaring shortcomings of the fragile democratic process, the people should
be allowed to take advantage of the democratic structures to take their
political destiny in their own hands. On their own part, the political class
should stop playing into the hands of potential coup plotters.
“While
the decision of the Army chief to alert the nation of the devilish plot is
appreciated, the authorites should proceed to fish out the coup plotters and
their civilian collaborators with a view to trying them for treasonable
felony.”
The
human rights activist lauded the establishment of interest free banks, adding
that those who are opposed to it should rather establish their own interest
free bank. He stated that interest-free banks would compel commercial banks to
reduce their interest rates on borrowers.
He
also lamented the abject poverty in the country and called for better economic
blueprint and management that would boost the economy.
He
urged the Federal Government to stop releasing funds to state governments which
are unable to account for the bailout funds and London/Paris Club loan refund
made available to them to fund the payment of salaries of workers and other
developmental projects.
He
said the anti-graft agencies have a duty to investigate and bring to book those
who were alleged to have cornered and diverted the public funds.
He
called on labour unions to ensure that the funds were fully accounted for as it
was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the working people.
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