The delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was turned back from the scheduled Senate
public hearing on the implementation of the 2012 budget, following the
unsuppressed anger of senators over the absence of the Minister of
Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The anger of the senators was further stoked by allegations that the real level of the implementation of the 2012 capital budget was 12.16% and not the 56% as claimed by administration officials.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who represented the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark at the aborted hearing, gave Okonjo-Iweala an ultimatum to appear in person at the hearing which was rescheduled for tomorrow or risk arrest.
Administration officials led by Anyim, himself a former President of the Senate and shored up with Senator Idris Umar, the Minister of Transport also a former senator, could not save the day in the face of the blistering anger of the lawmakers. The administration officials including the Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, the Auditor-General of the Federation were not given any opportunity to talk as they were turned back in the absence of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
Announcing the formal cancellation of the Public Hearing, Senator Ekweremadu said Senators were not happy with the attitude of the Finance Minister neglecting the event for what he described as a less important function in London.
According to Ekweremadu, the hearing was scheduled for last Thursday, but the Minister was in Delta State for another event which forced the Senate to push it for yesterday.
The anger of the senators was further stoked by allegations that the real level of the implementation of the 2012 capital budget was 12.16% and not the 56% as claimed by administration officials.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who represented the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark at the aborted hearing, gave Okonjo-Iweala an ultimatum to appear in person at the hearing which was rescheduled for tomorrow or risk arrest.
Administration officials led by Anyim, himself a former President of the Senate and shored up with Senator Idris Umar, the Minister of Transport also a former senator, could not save the day in the face of the blistering anger of the lawmakers. The administration officials including the Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, the Auditor-General of the Federation were not given any opportunity to talk as they were turned back in the absence of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
Announcing the formal cancellation of the Public Hearing, Senator Ekweremadu said Senators were not happy with the attitude of the Finance Minister neglecting the event for what he described as a less important function in London.
According to Ekweremadu, the hearing was scheduled for last Thursday, but the Minister was in Delta State for another event which forced the Senate to push it for yesterday.
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