BUDGET 2022: Lawan-Gbajabiamila NASS is patriotic – MURIC

By KEMI KASUMU

An Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the ninth National Assembly (NASS) under the leadership of Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as patriotic.

MURIC was reacting to the early passage of the N17.13 trillion 2022 budget Wednesday 22 December, 2021 by the NASS.

MURIC’s reaction came via a press statement issued dated Thursday 23 December, 2021 by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The group said: “The 9^th National Assembly made good its promise yesterday by passing the N17.13 trillion appropriation bill of 2022. Nigeria never had it so good. This early passage of the budget contrasts sharply with the costly, unpatriotic and anti-people procrastinations experienced under Dr. Bukola Saraki, the immediate past Senate president.

“The crop of lawmakers of today is different from that of yesterday. The 9^th NASS has purged itself of part-time Nollywood actors, molesters of women, idle medics and professional tree climbers. The 9^th NASS means business. There is no scintilla of doubt that the Lawan-Gbajabiamila NASS is patriotic. It is, indeed, the people’s NASS.

“This is not sycophancy. MURIC berated the 8^th NASS when it constituted itself into a clog in the wheel of governance under Saraki. It is only proper to commend the 9^th NASS for passing budgets with military dispatch. The current lawmakers have shown enemies of progress the art of genuine legislation. This is lawmaking without tears, lawmaking with a human face, lawmaking with the fear of Allah and lawmaking with the people’s interest in the lawmakers’ hearts.

“For the records, under Saraki, the 2016 budget was passed on 24^th March, 2016. The budget of 2017 was passed 11^th May, 2017. That of 2018 was passed on 16^th May, 2018 after being delayed for seven months while that of 2019 was passed on 11^th April, 2019.

“In comparison, 2020 budget was passed on 17^th December, 2019 by the current NASS. 2021 budget was passed on 21^st December, 2020 and yesterday, 22^nd December, 2021 witnessed the passing of the 2022 budget. The 9^th NASS has been consistently consistent in its humane approach to the passing of Nigeria’s appropriation bill. The difference is clear even to the blind. The 8^th or the 9^th NASS, Saraki or Lawan, who is more budget friendly?

“Posterity will remember the different roles played by Saraki and Lawan, in lawmaking process and leadership of the NASS. Nigerians already know the villain just as they know the hero. They know the enemy of the people. They know those who love the hoi polloi.”