The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has chided fellow representative Yusuf Galambi for what he termed a “careless” and “unpatriotic” comment regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2024 budget proposal.
President Tinubu unveiled the 2024 Appropriation Bill amounting to N27.5 trillion on Wednesday before the joint session of the National Assembly.
However, Rep. Galambi, a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), alleged, during a BBC Hausa Service interview, that the President merely presented empty boxes without providing necessary documents for budget scrutiny.
Responding to questions from journalists in the National Assembly on Saturday, Agbese attributed Galambi’s remarks to post-election petition tribunal fatigue and a lack of diligence during plenary sessions.
He emphasized that the House of Representatives had progressed beyond such concerns’
“The 10th National Assembly of the House of Representatives doesn’t entertain frivolities from the executive or members of the public.” He said.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, assured the public that the Committee on Appropriation had already distributed budget details to relevant committees, also confirming that budget defense sessions with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) would commence on Monday.
“The Speaker, in his usual style, will monitor the activities of all the Committees during the period of scrutiny, and Nigerians can be rest assured of the best from the People’s House,” Agbese stated.
He went on to attribute Galambi’s comment to “lack of concentration, absenteeism, and post-election petition trauma.”
Agbese expressed disappointment in the reporting of the statement, asserting that such an isolated comment shouldn’t have been reported by a patriotic press anywhere in the world
