We Didn’t Collect Any Bribe Before we Approved Lalong’s Loan Request -Hon. Daniel

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Yakubu Busari

Plateau-State-House-of-AssemblyThe Deputy Majority leader, in the Plateau State House of Assembly and the member representing Mikang constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Na’anlong Daniel has debunked the rumor making around that the members of the Eight (8) session of House of Assembly were monetarily induced by the Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong to expedite the approval of N10 billion loan that he sent to the House recently.

The lawmaker who was speaking at the Plateau State House of Assembly complex in Jos, said let me correct an impression, the members did not kick against the loan as being speculated by rumourmongers, but there are procedures in giving any approval to any communications that comes from the governor.

Furthermore, the honourable member disclosed that, it is also the duty of the house to investigate in other to get clear information on the communications before giving its approval.

So in this case, a communication came from the governor seeking for a resolution, to cover a sum of N10 billion loan that the Plateau State Government will asses from the central Bank.

The House has a responsibility, to also discuss with the Executive to know the purpose of the loan, and how the state government intend to spend the loan.

And it was agreed at the first sitting, that there was a standing committee, which is the committee on finance to go and reason together with relevant agencies that are responsible in respect to the generation of the proposal that will cover the N10 billion.

Hon. Na’anlong furthered revealed that the finance committee was given the mandate and were asked to present their report to the floor of the House on Tuesday for the lawmakers to know if they should give their approval or not.

And fortunately am a member of the House committee on finance, which we sat and invited the permanent secretary ministry of finance and the state accountant general and the entire management of the ministry of finance Plateau State.

The entire management of the Plateau State debt management board were included in the discussion, which they came with their figures and also explained to us why the loan is necessary and looking at the reason why the loan   will be collected, because the loan is particularly made for capital expenditures.

And looking at the dwindling economy of the state, there was a need for the state government to take advantage of the window opportunity which the central bank is giving out loan on just 9% interest rate, which of cause no commercial bank can give you loan at that interest rate.

So we saw it as an opportunity too, even though we are also being careful as the members of the House and also as representatives of the people of Plateau State of not to overburden the state with too much of debt, which the debt management board were able to give us details into the importance of the debt and also advice that the IGR of the state should be step up so that it can meet up to any challenges that may likely occur in the nearest future.

As a result of the deductions that my come when the central bank will start making the deduction out of the loans that was collected.

So when we presented our report to the floor of the house, the House also deemed it feet that since the loan is for capital expenditures, as politicians, we went out promising our electorate that if we are voted into power, we will definitely attract the attention of the government to our various constituency for adequate development.

And as members there are constituency projects that the electorates are expecting from us as their representatives need to do, which the loan also covers.

And since the loan is for projects and you know that is what our people down there at the grassroots are expecting from us, you know we will not say no to it, because it is important that the people down there at the grassroots to see the dividends of democracy.

Also shading more light on the issue of monetary inducement by the state governor to members of state assembly, before the members reconsider his request as the rumor is making around, he said the Deputy majority leader said, this is political era and it is expected of people to say whatever they want to say, basically that may be the practice which I don’t know, but am talking to you that as far as am concern and as far as this issue is concern there is nothing like monetary inducement from the state executive.

We were voted into this office by our people to protect their mandates, and telling you that there was no exchange of single kobo between the executive and the legislature.

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