The Executive and the legislative arms of government appear to be heading for showdown over on issues bothering on national security and series of probes being embarked upon by the Senate and  House of Representatives.

While the Presidency was said to be angry that members of the National Assembly had been misrepresenting national issues, the federal lawmakers too were said to be  crestfallen that the executive had allegedly been aiding some individuals they have been probing to portray them as corrupt,

The resolve last week by the House to summon President Goodluck Jonathan for explanation on his handling of security situation in the country was, however,  said to be the major source of tension between the two, as the step had fouled the mood in the Presidential villa against the lower house.

On the other hand, the Presidency, most especially top aides of President Jonathan, Saturday Tribune  learnt, were already also pitched against the Senate on its consistent demand for disbandment of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Funds, which they believed, had been doing a good job.

An ad hoc Committee, set up by the Senate on the Pension Funds, had produced a damning report on members of the Pension Reform Task Team, accusing it of mismanaging part of the recovered stolen pension funds and hence called for the prosecution of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The feeling in the Presidency, according to findings, is that the Pension Reform Task Team has not compromised in any way since every action it took got the nod of the appropriate authorities, more so since the Task Team comprised members of the  Economicand Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Service (SSS) and the Police.

It was learnt that the Presidency would not support the position of the Senate on the Pension Reform Task Team based on the perception that some forces had been hell bent on having the Team, which had recovered almost N200 billion of stolen pension funds, disbanded based on some alleged compromises.

The probe of Petroleum Subsidy accruals has also reportedly been another subject of animosity between the Presidency and the lawmakers, owing to the belief by some lawmakers that the action taken by  a businessman, Chief Femi Otedola against the former Chairman of Probe Panel on Subsidy, Lawan Farouk allegedly got the backing of the Villa.

Comments (1)

Show/hide comments

Unnecessary Face off.
written by Emeka K Duru, June 23, 2012

Why should the Presidency want cooperation from NASS to do bad against the nation and resist to work with them to do good.
We have 150million Nigerians at least,in Nigeria,if any board starts to compromise itself,it is wrong for the Presidency to shield it.We cannot accuse NASS of antagonism when they are only trying to save the nation.Let the searchlight be beamed.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment