The lecture given by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at the Igbenedion University generated lots of controversy with some members of the House calling for the immediate sack of the Governor.

In the lecture Sanusi was quoted to have said 25% of the total overhead of the Nation goes to the National Assembly which the members tried to deny.

The Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the Senate Senator Iyiola Omisore said Sanusi's explanation amounted to what he called "a deliberate attempt to mislead the nation".

Yet Malam Sanusi refused to apologise even though the Minister of Finance Dr Olusegun Aganga was summoned by the House to clarify on the issue and contradict the Governor.

Sanusi Lamido bluntly stood his ground and insisted what he said at the convocation of the University was correct and apparently he was right.

Documents obtained from the Budget Office showed that of the 536.2billion Naira total overhead 136. Billion Naira went to the National Assembly 25% as exactly quoted by Lamido Sanusi.

The Minister of Finance ostensibly tried to exonerate himself and align with the members of the Assembly faulting Sanusi on the issue while the Governor of the Central Bank stood firm and refused to apologise enhancing his credibility.

There is nothing wrong in pointing out mistakes of the elders or leaders with the intention to correcting the anomaly.

Take for example the recent MPs expenses scandal here in London led to changes in the way members of the House used to make exaggerated claims with some topping over £10,000 with the minimum of about £3,000.After the changes now the highest claim as reported by the Evening Standard was a taxi fair of just £65.20 claimed by an MP from London with some claiming tiny amount as little as £7.20 after nine claims costing 80pence each.

It is reported only three MPS claimed meals allowance during late hours highest of which was over £12 and cheapest stood at about £4 only.

The MPS were forced to pay the unnecessary claims which were said to have been made illegally after they were published in the press following an inquiry set up by the House of Common.

Now all the claims have to be approved by the Independent Parliament Standard Authority. Going back to our MPS fuming with anger when the Governor of the Central Bank told the truth about the expenses which generated the controversy, he said " I did not abuse anyone ,I did not say any body stole money, why the 25% came up this is what the papers decided to talk about" he concluded.

Apparently the members of Assembly have now realised the Governor of the Bank was not concocting the figure it is there to be seen by every Nigerian majority of whom are living hand to mouth while the MPS are living life of luxury with a minimum of at least five million Naira a month.

As the controversy of the exact budgetary overheads at the Federal Legislatures raised by the Governor of the Central Bank with good intention continues to rage the MPS should draw a lesson from their London's counterparts who used to squander public money in unnecessary expenses which could not be tolerated therefore have to resort to tiny claims like every ordinary citizen as they are public servants not masters as some of our leaders wanted to show.


Wa Aakhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen

©  EsinIslam.Com