By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
ABUJA – Senator Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has demanded a full-scale Senate investigation into the controversial inclusion of an agency in the 2025 Appropriation Act, insisting that lawmakers must uncover those responsible for inserting the agency into the national budget.
The senator made the demand while addressing journalists at the National Assembly shortly after raising the issue on the floor of the Senate under Orders 9 and 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders as a matter of privilege.
Sumaila explained that his concern goes beyond the ongoing executive investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the National Assembly must determine whether it played any role in approving or facilitating the 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 mater of privilege,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to amend appropriation proposals submitted by the executive by making additions, removals or other adjustments before the budget is passed into law.
According to him, there are only two possible routes through which the agency could have found its way into the budget.
“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 called on the Senate leadership to direct the Committees on Appropriations and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation and establish how the agency was captured in the budget.
He maintained that although President Bola Tinubu had already directed the executive to investigate the activities of the agency, the legislature has a separate constitutional obligation to scrutinise its own role in the budget-making process.
“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 said.
Responding to questions from journalists, the senator explained that he relied on Order 9(c) because it provides lawmakers with the opportunity to formally bring urgent national matters before the Senate.
He clarified that although the Senate did not proceed to debate or adopt the issue as a substantive motion, the objective of notifying the chamber had been accomplished.
“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 lawmaker further stressed that transparency and accountability in the appropriation process remain critical to preserving public confidence in democratic governance, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know how the controversial agency was included in the 2025 budget and those responsible for its insertion.
The latest development comes amid growing scrutiny over the agency following President Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate its activities.
If the Senate proceeds with its own inquiry, the outcome could expose weaknesses in Nigeria’s budget process, trigger disciplinary action against anyone found culpable, and strengthen legislative oversight over future appropriations.
