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Budget: Appear before Assembly or face impeachment, legislators threaten Ambode

David Adenekan
David Adenekan
Lagos House of Assembly summons Akinwunmi Ambode again
Ambode

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has one week to appear before the state’s House of Assembly or face impeachment.

The threat was handed down on Monday by the State House of Assembly following alleged violation of the constitution by the governor over the 2019 budget.

His offence was that he had started spending from the budget without getting the approval of the House of Assembly, it was alleged.

The Legislative and Executive arms of government in the state had been at loggerhead over the budget.

The Assembly had accused the governor of not properly laying the budget before it for approval, but the governor was said to have started spending.

Considering the issue at plenary on Monday, the legislators, one after the other, berated the governor for alleged gross misconduct and threatened to sack him.

It took the appeal of the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, to calm frayed nerves.

He said the legislators should give Ambode a period of grace – one week, pointing out that he (the governor) had not been duly advised by the necessary commissioners.

His words:  “The Attorney General, Finance Commissioner and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning that ought to have advised the governor did not do so.

“The most important thing is that we should let the people know that a budget that was yet to be approved is being spent.

“We must give the executive a fair hearing to come and explain what happened.

“The point has been made that there must be something before the House before you can commence expenditure.

“We want to call on the Governor to come within a week to explain himself along with the relevant commissioners.

“We can’t start gathering signatures for impeachment. We need to exercise patience and wait till another time.”

The House adjourned plenary till February 4.

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