President Goodluck Jonathan was shocked today when the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, Honourable Nadu Karibo, led his members to the State House for oversight function.
The lawmakers who didn’t give a prior notice before the Villa invasion specifically inspected the facilities at the State House Medical Centre.
After the thorough inspection the chairman of the committee expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the State House Medical Centre, he said the House of Representatives would review the Villa’s budgetary allocation next year.
This, according to him, is to ensure that the budget of the Presidential Villa is commensurate with the projects proposed for execution.
He said: “What really impressed me was the extension work going on at the State House Medical Centre and I was surprised. My initial impression was that State House Medical Centre was only for the president and the State House staff, but I observed that those who are not even State House staff have access to that medical facilities, it is really impressive and we also observed that there is extension work going on there, a new site is being developed, probably to cater for the upsurge of the people going there for treatment.We also saw other aspects of the State House.
“I was impressed with the fact that outsiders have access to that facilities. We also saw the renovation work going on in parts of the Villa here we went through. We are very happy that the president will open his doors and enable members to come freely and do oversight. I think this is an unprecedented, it is not a usual everyday thing. So, I am really impressed that the president opened his doors to look at what we wanted to look”
On the perceived rift between the House of Representatives and the executive, the lawmaker averred that the perception was incorrect, saying: “It is not true. The problem about Nigerians is that if you don’t quarrel with the executive, you are not doing over sighting, you are not diong your work well, and any little disagreement, any little misunderstanding between both arms, which is very usual in politics, is often overblown.
“It is not out of place for the House of Representatives to do investigations, to ask questions when necessary, otherwise the relationship between the executive and the legislature is very cordial. You can see us here we are over sighting the State House, that should be the parameter to see that the relationship is not as bad as people think”
“When the State House budget is brought before the House, we will look at it again in the next year’s budget, it will capture the new project that you have been doing. If there is any need to increase it, we will persuade the House to increase it, if there is any need to reduce it, the House of Representatives will reduce it”, said the lawmaker.
Also speaking, President Jonathan described the visit as a welcome development which, he said, would help to bridge communication gap between the legislature and the executive.
According to the president, “this is perhaps the very first time this kind of visit will happen and it is something to be encouraged. If a section of the legislature is responsible for oversight even for the State House, it is very good that they will visit to come and see what is going on there and to inspect and the administration. Even the executive arm of government places a lot of emphases on oversight and checks and balances on monitoring and evaluation.
“Both the executive and the legislature are travelling to the same destination which is to serve the people. It is a question of commitment to delivering service and this shows very clearly that both the legislature and executive are working together. It was a very good, amiable meeting and interaction.”
