Senator Abdulmumuni M. Hassan represents
Jigawa South-west zone in the senate. In this interview with pressmen,
including RUTH CHOJI, this Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National
Identity Card says that Governor Sule Lamido is North’s best bet for the
presidency in 2015. He also spoke on what the National Assembly intends
to do to instil global best practices in the country and the need to
maintain the tradition of early passage of appropriation bill every
year.
Nigerians were surprised
when the senate passed the 2013 budget knowing fully well that the 2012
budget was not fully implemented. What happened?
The
issue is that we needed a framework and a system in which our budget
will start to be implemented by January to December of each year. This
is because the current system of passing the budget in the middle of the
year is never done in other countries and we have to conform to
international best practices for us to be global citizens; more so, the
issue of timing the passage of the budget at the middle of the year
makes implementation very difficult.
What should Nigerians expect from the 2013 budget?
Well,
if you look at the speeches delivered by the Senate President and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives at the 2013 budget presentation,
it shows to all Nigerians that we are dedicated to 100% implementation
of the budget and therefore, Nigerians should expect the best from the
National Assembly.
As the vice
chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Card and NPC, what has
the committee done to ensure that those not properly captured in the
census were considered?
If you go
back to history, you will realize that the National Population Census
was never completely accepted by all. However, we will do our best to
ensure an acceptable census in which everyone will be captured.
What is going to happen to the Bakkassi figures captured now that it has been conceded to Cameroun?
The
issue of Bakkasi as far as I know is over. This is because the
International Court of Justice had since during Obasanjo’s
administration delivered its decisions and a window of appeal was given
to us and it was used by the federal government. So I think this issue
should be a thing of the past.
Nigerian population is not commensurate with the level of our development, what is the way out?
The
way forward is for us as people to change. The leadership should be
committed to implementing policies and programs that will endanger
development, create jobs, reduce poverty, improve health care delivery
and ensure the welfare of all and sundry. The citizenry on the other
hand should be good followers and ensure they do their best in
contributing in every capacity and situation they found themselves to
the development of this country.
The issue of the pension fund scam drew the ire of the senate recently, what is the next line of action?
What
led to the issuance of the warrant of the arrest on the Chairman of the
Pension Task Force was because of his failure to honor our invitation
and that was totally unacceptable by the Senate. We wanted to ensure
that we give him the right to fair hearing and also to render account of
his steward ship to Nigerians. After this, we will allow the law to
take its course.
Going to the
constitutional review, would you support the calls for the scrapping of
the joint state and local government account?
I
do not completely support the scrapping of the state/local government
joint account. This is because in most cases, you will realize that some
of the local government chairmen we have are not competent and so
giving them the grant directly will only further deepen corruption and
embezzlement of public funds. But where state government ensures free,
fair and credible elections, competent chairman of local government will
emerge and they can be given their grants.
But will you support the complete autonomy of local government
I will completely support the autonomy of local governments.
Will you also support the review of the on shore/of shore dichotomy law that is gradually building up in the north?
Of
course; the on-shore, off-shore law or dichotomy should be reviewed
because those states that benefit from the law do not do anything to
stand to benefit from that and as such, they should be treated equally
with all the states in the federation.
Nigerians are groaning under fuel scarcity again, what has the committee on the downstream sector done to end these
problems?
It
is indeed very sad and unfortunate because we are suffering and lacking
from what we have; what we produce and what we export. Even countries
that do not have oil are not suffering as much as we are suffering in
Nigeria. So, on our part, we have been doing our best by calling on the
stakeholders in the petroleum industry to resolve this issue so that
Nigerians will stop suffering from this intended artificial scarcity.
The
north has been divided because of sectarian crises and insurgency, do
you see the north coming together to agree on a consensus candidate
before 2015
(Laughs) Well, I believe
God is the one that gives leadership to whomever he likes and at the
time he likes and whether people like it or not. Of course the north
will be and is even indeed united. We are only facing some challenges
like other parts of the country and the world in general. We also not
unmindful of the challenges facing other parts of the country such as
armed robbery and kidnapping.
If we go back a
little into history, you will recall that, there was a time when you
cannot go to Lagos or Port Hacourt. But the story is different now and
so it will be for the north also. I also strongly believe that Dr. Sule
Lamido will be a blessing to Nigerians just like he is to Jigawa State.
The laudable efforts and achievements of his excellency in Jigawa State
cannot be over-emphasised.
This is because, there is no road,
school or hospital that is not rehabilitated, jobs are created and
youths empowered. So were Nigerians to grant him an opportunity, I bet
you, we are not going to regret it and we will indeed reap the dividend
of democracy
Naij
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