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Civil rights activist and former senator, Shehu Sani, has proposed the enactment of a law to prevent lawmakers from tampering with budgets presented by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as a measure to curb budget padding.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Sani stated, “The only way to stop budget padding is to make a law that prohibits lawmakers from tampering with budgets presented by MDAs.”
However, he expressed scepticism about the feasibility of such legislation, adding, “…but I don’t know who will make that law or how it can even pass the first reading.”
Sani’s comments come ahead of the Appropriations Committee’s scheduled meeting with the Minister of Finance, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Director-General of the Budget Office.
The meeting, set for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, aims to address concerns raised during budget preparations.
Additionally, the budget defence sessions between Appropriations Sub-committees and relevant MDAs are slated to begin on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and run through January 15.
In a related engagement, Sani urged the government and Nigerians to honour the country’s freedom fighters who stood against colonial oppression.
Speaking during a visit to the tombs of six deposed emirs in Lokoja, Kogi State, the former senator called for greater recognition of those who sacrificed for the nation’s sovereignty.
Sani said, accompanied by Comrade Suleiman Ahmed, “These emirs refused to bow to British colonialists and paid the ultimate price for their bravery.
“Today, I am on the visit to the tombs of the Emirs from Northern Nigerians who were deposed by the British Colonialists and exiled to Lokoja where they died. Here, particularly, is the tomb of the late Emir of Kano, Mallam Aliyu Abdullahi (Maisango) who died in 1903.
“We have to appreciate the freedom fighters, those who stood in defence of our country. As a Pan-Africanist, someone who has been involved in the struggle for rights for freedom and justice, and someone who appreciates history a lot.
“I am here to appreciate this noble Emirs who stood in the defence of our country. This visit is to also send a clear message to Nigerians and to inspire others, that as we move forward as a country and as a people, we should also look backwards to appreciate those who fought and laid their lives and made sacrifices for us.
“Here, are Emirs who are lying down in their tombs; they were not deposed by their people but by the colonialists who came to enslave our people and take over our country and our resources. The Emirs that refused to bow down to colonialists, the ones who stood for freedom and defended our territorial land; we owe them a lot.”
