By Philomina Brando
Senator Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has called for a thorough investigation by the Senate into the inclusion of a controversial agency in the 2025 national budget, insisting that those responsible must be identified to safeguard transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s appropriation process.
Sumaila made the call while briefing journalists at the National Assembly after raising the issue on the floor of the Senate under Order 9 and 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders as a matter of privilege.
The lawmaker said his concern was not about the ongoing investigation by the executive, but rather to determine whether the National Assembly played any role in inserting or approving the agency’s budgetary allocation.
“My major concern is governance integrity. I discovered that an already controversial agency was included in the national budget. That is why I brought the matter before the Senate under a matter of privilege,” he said.
He explained that under the Constitution, the National Assembly has the authority to amend appropriation proposals submitted by the executive through additions, deductions or other adjustments before passage.
According to him, it is important for the Senate to establish the origin of the provision to ensure accountability.
“There are only two possible sources. Either the proposal came from the executive or it originated from the National Assembly during the budget process. We need to know who facilitated its inclusion in the national budget,” he stated.
Sumaila urged the Senate leadership to mandate the Committees on Appropriations and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation.
He noted that while President Bola Tinubu had already directed the executive to conduct a comprehensive investigation, the legislature also has an independent constitutional responsibility to examine its role in the matter.
“The President can order an investigation without seeking the approval of the National Assembly because he is constitutionally empowered to do so. My concern is different. I want to know who legalized or facilitated the inclusion of the agency in the budget, because that falls within our constitutional responsibility,” he added.
Responding to questions on the Senate’s reaction, Sumaila clarified that he invoked Order 9(c) as a privileged avenue to draw attention to urgent national issues.
He said although the Senate did not debate or adopt the matter as a motion, the objective of notifying the chamber had been achieved.
“A matter of privilege gives you the opportunity to communicate an important issue to the Senate. The Senate may decide whether or not to debate it. What is important is that I have formally notified the Senate that this matter deserves investigation,” he said.
The senator stressed that accountability in the budget process remains critical to sustaining public trust in governance, adding that Nigerians deserve to know how the agency was included in the national budget and who was responsible.