Editor’s note: In this opinion piece, Ahmad Sanni, an ecomist and commentator on social and poltical matters, elaborates on what made him change his mind over the effectiveness of the current eighth Nigerian Senate.
It is not often that one gets to witness a probe in a Nigerian Senate go from start to finish. I’m glad to say we may, and very soon.
When the Senate began its probe of the TSA, Remita, the CBN scam in November, I was telling anyone who cared enough to listen that this was just another move to score cheap points and discredit the past government. I was wrong, and I am not ashamed to admit it.
Yesterday, when Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, admitted he had no idea the nation was paying an astonishing 1% of funds remitted to the company, I had a wry smile on my face while thinking Dino and friends had scored a good one.
Considering the laxity that has followed similar probes in this country, I believe I speak the minds of many people when I say it’s a relief to see this one even come so far. To hear that the company has refunded the money to the CBN makes it even greater news.
The battle against corruption, graft, and the many faces the mayhem wears must be carried out across all levels of society, in the government and in our individual lives. I doubt that even President Buhari or ex-President Jonathan knew there was the 1% charge. No question the Senate has helped us save some valuable funds in this period of austerity measures.
However, if this 8th Senate wants to redeem the image of the Nigerian legislature the people have in their minds, this cannot be all. The National Assembly, and its version in the States, must take their oversight functions seriously. Imagine if this was not uncovered, and the already thin coffers of the government continued being fleeced regularly by such amounts! We would end up calling subsidy thieves saints, no?
Saraki and his colleagues must ensure that all of such contracts the government has with private companies are thoroughly scrutinized, and where fraud exists, it is exposed, for the sanity of the nation and the dignity of the hallowed chamber.
Dear senators, while you are at it, kindly pay minimal attention to our “abusive” tweets and Facebook posts, find us jobs and see if we won’t be merrier, eh?!
Ahmad Sanni tweets @sanni_ahmad. He is an economist, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and a columnist.
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