The immediate past Senate President, David Mark, has described as mischievous and blackmail the allegation flying around that the finances of the National Assembly under his leadership was shrouded in secrecy, saying that parliamentary practices and procedures dictates that all issues should be carried out in the open.
Mark who made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja, by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, emphasized: “such allegation was borne out of deliberate mischief, blackmail or outright ignorance.
“How can anyone claim that the National Assembly budget is secret. Or that our earnings are secret. The National Assembly budget is part and parcel of the Federal budget. It is not a separate document.
“If anybody is in doubt, he or she should get a copy of the National budget and clarify. It is a public document. Every time you hear people talk about National Assembly budget as if it is independent of the Federal budget.”
He insisted that anybody can access the National Assembly budget, stressing that members were not responsible for fixing of their salaries, but an appropriate federal government agency.
“What we earn is open. I think we should put an end to this cheap blackmail. It is sad and ridiculous when people give the impression that the National Assembly budget has continued to be increased annually. This is not correct. It is unwarranted and needless accusation.
“I make bold to say that the National Assembly under my leadership was bold, courageous, steadfast and truly patriotic. We stood on the side of the people, the truth , transparency and above all in the interest of the nation.
“We were the first to make cut in our 2015 budget. People should appreciate what we are doing. We tightened our belts more than any other ministry or parastatal today. I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction to say we make a lot of sacrifices in our budgetary systems.”
Mark cautioned against reducing critical national matters to politics and warned Nigerians against playing politics with serious national issues like appropriations.
According to him, “With every sense of responsibility, in 2008, the National Assembly under my leadership was the first arm of government to return N7bn unspent fund to the national treasury during late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration.
“Some people would have done otherwise but I remained a patriotic and committed pan- Nigerian, ever determined to do my utmost best to improve the lots of my country men and women.” [myad]
